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Daily Lift #167

If You Don't Like a Situation Change it or Change Your Self-Talk

There are always two possibilities about any unsatisfying situation: Either you will be able to change it, or you will be able to change your self-talk.

Telling yourself, "There is nothing at all I can do to change this situation, therefore I must feel bad," is not based on reality. How can anyone possibly say: "There is nothing at all I can do to change the situation"? You can always pray, can't you? Your Father, your King, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, can change any situation in a moment.

You might find a book or article that gives you ideas that can help you find a solution that you didn't think of before.

You might find a teacher, mentor, coach, or friend who can make suggestions and think of ideas that will enable you to change a situation.

Events might unfold that totally change the situation. The Purim story teaches us that even an impossible situation that spelled total doom can be changed in a single moment.

You might think of a way to reframe the situation so that now you view it differently. What previously seemed like a problem and a difficulty can now be seen as a wonderful opportunity to grow and develop yourself. What was once considered a liability can now be seen as an asset.

You always have a choice of your self-talk. Ask yourself, "What can I think about now that will improve the way I am feeling?"

You can always think, "The more challenging a situation, the more I can grow from it."

The more skilled you are about creating positive self-talk in challenging situations, the easier it will be for you to handle new challenges in the future.

(from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin's book: "Conversations With Yourself", pp.78-9) [Artscroll.com])

See more Daily Lifts on the topic of Frustration

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Rabbi Zelig Pliskin's new book has just been published by Artscroll: SELF-CONFIDENCE: Formulas, Stories, and Insights.

Self-confidence allows you to create goals -- and reach them. It lets you learn from your failures -- and move on to triumphs. It helps you transform your potential into real achievement. With the help of Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, you will gain that self-confidence.

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin is the author of 25 books with his specialty in mastering happiness and other positive inner resources.

His last 15 books include: "Taking Action", "Happiness", "Kindness", "Courage", "Serenity", "Building Your Self-image" "Conversations with Yourself" and "Marriage." These books are available at: Artscroll.com.

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About the Author

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

More by this Author >

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin is a noted psychologist and prolific author of 24 books, including Guard Your Tongue, Gateway to Happiness, Gateway to Self Knowledge, Love Your Neighbor, Growth Through Torah, The Power of Words, Consulting the Wise, and the recent Life is Now. Rabbi Pliskin lives in Jerusalem, and is the director of Aish HaTorah's Counseling Center and a senior lecturer at Aish's Essentials program and the Executive Learning Center. He was ordained at the Telshe Yeshiva in Ohio and holds a degree in Counseling Psychology.

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May 25, 2013 / 16 Sivan 5773

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