The way we talk to ourselves is easy to ignore because it's happening all the time. Most of us don't stop to wonder whether that little voice is actually helping—or quietly making everything a little harder.

A simple observation about motivation opens up a conversation about encouragement, resistance, and the surprisingly big difference a small shift in wording can make. Along the way there are yoga aspirations, podcast deadlines, rebellious inner toddlers, Hamilton songs, and a reminder that our inner worlds are often much stranger—and more personal—than we assume.

What We Talk About

  • 00:00 — Why negative self-talk adds another layer of "ick."
  • 02:06 — Shannon's self-motivating approach to training for the Oslo 10K.
  • 03:23 — Yoga, podcast editing, and finding better motivation.
  • 05:14 — Encouragement versus self-criticism.
  • 08:27 — Meeting the "inner rebel toddler."
  • 09:23 — Making negative self-talk less convincing.
  • 11:43 — Inner voices, Hamilton songs, and how differently our minds work.
  • 14:30 — Remembering why something matters in the first place.


Key Takeaways

  • The tone of your self-talk can matter just as much as the words themselves.
  • Remembering why you want to do something can feel much more motivating than telling yourself you should.
  • Harsh self-talk often adds another layer of discomfort instead of making action easier.
  • If a negative inner voice feels convincing, changing how you imagine it—its voice, location, or tone—can make it easier to question.
  • Simply noticing how you talk to yourself is a meaningful first step.


The Bottom Line

It isn't about finding the perfect motivational script. It's about paying attention to the conversation you're already having with yourself—and whether it's actually helping.

Sometimes the smallest shift isn't changing your goal but changing the voice that's encouraging you toward it. The next time you catch yourself saying "I should," pause for a moment and ask yourself why you want it instead.

Want More Like This

Episode 4: Self-Talk

If this conversation felt familiar, it's fun to hear where it all began. Shannon and Janine first explored the little voice in your head—and what to do when it isn't being especially helpful.

Episode 78: Words Matter

A natural companion to this episode, this conversation looks at how small shifts in language can change the way we think, especially when perfectionism sneaks into our self-talk.

Episode 98: Stop With the Shoulds

One of Janine's least favorite words gets the spotlight. If today's conversation about encouragement resonated, this episode digs deeper into replacing obligation with choice.

Connect With Us

How do you talk to yourself when you're trying to do something that's good for you? Has changing that conversation ever made a difference?

  • Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
  • Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
  • Email: gettingtogoodenough@gmail.com




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