Episode 28 - Activate Your Best With "I AM..."

Do you find yourself stuck in the past or worrying too much about the future that you cannot get things done? Start taking action by harnessing the power of the “I am” statements. Darren CdeBaca explains how saying “I am” – not “I will” or “I’m going to” – will reprogram your thought patterns and empower you to start making progress. Discover how positive affirmations and present-focused talk can propel you into action every single day and make sure your bold goals are achieved.

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Activate Your Best With "I AM..." 

Thank you for tuning in. If you're not available to take notes while I'm discussing this topic, don't be afraid to come back and replay any part of this to get those meaningful thoughts and suggestions back into your day and/or vision as you see fit about the topic. The topic is the one that will immediately change the way you activate yourself to get things done. It’s going to.

Here is the topic. Activate your best with I Am. This discussion is about activating your best with I Am. It is one that you're going to immediately benefit from if you utilize it. I know that is a strong statement, but rest assured, I am stating the truth. It's one of the most, if not the most, important growth tools you'll have in your pocket going forward.

 

Being The Best And Average Have Nothing In Common

Before we discuss this topic and get into some great examples that will change the direction of your day, let me share the phrase that best fits and defines our work at DCB Strategies and captures the result set of achieving bold goals that are backed by purpose, prepared strategies, and actions. As you insert “I am,” things are going to happen.

Whether your bold goals are within your professional, personal, or athletic setting, this phrase resonates. Are you ready? Here's the phrase that we use at DCB Strategies. “Being the best and average have nothing in common.” That's right. Let's say that together. Being the best and average have nothing in common.” Repeat that to yourself. How does that resonate with you? Doesn't your brain want to say, “Am I the best or average?” That's fine. We're not here to judge. We are here to share with you the tools that the best utilize to maintain their status within their professional, personal, or athletic settings to be the best.

You’re like, “I admit it.” As you said that statement to yourself and you can admit it, your brain immediately went into, “Where do I fit into that mode? Best or average? It is the awareness that your brain has its own way of thinking once you tell it something. This is what we're discussing. We do know that as we train our brain, our body will follow. It's not remarkable. It's real. Let's dive into it.

The Power Of “I Am” Affirmations

To create a level playing field, do know that the topic, activating your best with I Am, refers to the personal growth approach. That is centered on using the I Am affirmations, which propel ourselves into positive growth mindsets, positive self-confidence, and constantly work actively towards becoming one of our best selves, if that is proper.

Side note, but certainly noteworthy, at DCB Strategies, we know that the positive growth mindset thinking is in the deliberate side of our brain versus the default side of our brain. Remember, growth zone forward thoughts and actions are within the deliberate way of thinking. Comfort zone, no growth zone, as we call it, is the default way of thinking. To summarize, there are two ways of thinking. Deliberately, to get with a positive mindset, or default.  The beauty of this is that there are only two ways. It's your choice. Deliberate or default.

We're tethered to this topic by stating the fact, whether it is deliberate or default. We are going to be talking about the deliberate way of thinking. Let's get back to I Am. This proven technique of using “I am” leverages the brain's neuroplasticity to immediately reprogram thought patterns in forward and empowering actions and beliefs.

Remember, what we know is that once you believe you can, you are halfway there. Once you start sharing with your brain, “I believe I can,” or, “I am,” you are more than halfway there. This is the foundation of positive affirmations, which we have all heard or even have taken into our daily craft and actions. If you haven't yet or you've tried, I'm going to give you the reasons why you need to incorporate it in your day as you maintain that action set to back your strategies to achieve your goal.

Once you believe you can, you are halfway there.

Breaking Down Three Types Of Self-Talks

Fortunately, the evidence of how powerful the “I am” phrase has become and is becoming more apparent is when I initiated DCB Strategies’ coaching platform years back. Quickly, I confirmed that there are three types of self-talk that DCB clients have with themselves. They work within that self-talk type when it comes to defining their strategy and actions in their efforts to achieve their most desired goals.

What are those three self-talks? What are they defined as? What do they sound like? Let me give you an idea here. Once you get acclimated and start using “I am” and the deliberate side of your brain, you will start listening to how other people think and recognize where they are, whether it is default or deliberate. That’s more than half of the opportunity to work with people to understand where they are and how they're talking. Thus, work with them.

Let me bring your attention to these three types of self-talk. There's past-focused self-talk, future-focused self-talk, and present-focused self-talk, which is I Am. Let me bring your attention to those words of the past, future, and present that define each type of talk. Let's get into it. For past-focused talk, think about this. When I go through this, you'll recognize the a-ha about how easy it is to go into the past-focused talk. You'll also recognize it's not deliberate.

It goes like this. Listen for those words that are from the past, like, “I used to do it this way. I was successful in doing this. If that happened, I would be doing this. I've tried that before. When I did that, I used to do it this way.” Those are some examples. Let me review those again for the past-focused talk. “I was successful doing this before. If that happened, I would be,” or, “I tried that before, and,” or, “When I did that, I used to do it this way.” More obvious statements begin with, “I would have, should have, or could have.”

You'll listen in your daily discussions with people about either the past, future, or present. You'll hear a lot of, “I should have, could have, or would have,” if they're in the mode of defining their obvious opportunity and desire to achieve future goals. They’re like, “I would've done that. I should have done that. I could have done that fine.” That's all past. That doesn't move us off the marker. It recognizes what we've gone through in the past. When you are set up to achieve a deliberate, desired goal, you're talking about the future, which needs to be controlled by the present, so it's present talk.

Let's talk about the next one. We have what a past-focused talk goes like. We gave some examples. Future-focused talk goes like this. It's very simple and sounds like this. “I will do blah. I need to do blah. I am going to do. I plan to do.” As it pertains to goals and it starts with, “I will. I need. I'm going. I plan,” it's all future. That has nothing to do with what you're doing to achieve your goal.

When you set your mind into the present mode, you'll see the power of it versus the lack of strength, positive affirmations, and a growth mindset with past-focused talk or future-focused talk. We discussed what past sounds like, which is, “I would have, could have, should have.” Future sounds like, “I need to do. I am going to do.” You could put “I am” in there, but going to do kills it. As it pertains to goals, it starts with, “I need to. I am going to. I plan to.” That’s future talk.

Unpacking Three Levels Of Present-Focused Talk

As we go through some present-focused talk examples next, we together are going to feel the positive buy-in on the following three levels. There are three levels. When you start talking to yourself in present-focused sense with “I am,” you're going to feel the buy-in on the following three levels. One is called manifestation. Evidence suggests that what we declare after “I am” is manifesting it into reality. Therefore, it is considered important to be mindful of what we say to ourselves, whether positive or negative, because it does influence our course and path. When we discover how powerful manifestation is, we start having this present-focused talk in our brains and our actions.

Be mindful of the things you are saying to yourself, whether positive or negative, because they influence your course and path in life.

Number two is self-affirmation and identity. “I am” is a declaration of your existence and identity by affirming who you are, what you're changing, and how you're changing yourself and building your self-assurance. That’s self-affirmation and identity. When we get into this present-focused talk, the third level that we'll be experiencing is positive thinking.

Positive affirmations help us focus on the positive aspects of our mindset goals in life. For example, saying, “I am healthy,” can attract a much more positive attitude towards health versus the other side, “I am sick,” which is dangerous. We want to have positive thinking involved, have self-affirmation and identity involved, and have a manifestation occur. That is so strong when you use the I Am statement as you get your actions completed during the day that are most desirable towards your bold goals.

How To Elevate Yourself Through Present-Focused Statements

Let's dive into this present-focused talk using “I am.” Simply, 90% of the present-focused talk begins with, “I am,” not with, “I am going to.” Don't say that. It’s not, “I am going to.” It's, “I am.” Get to it. You'll see some examples. Let's explore a few to get us into the phase of using this powerful mindset and habits as a tool. Here we go.

“I am completing my daily actions that back my strategy. I am passionate today. I am making those extra five calls. I am setting up my important time blocks for this week. I am motivated to overcome obstacles to achieve this goal. I am making my sales team even better this month. I'm calling ten centers of influence now and not stopping to complete it. I'm excited about all my possibilities today.” Those are some pretty bold I Ams that get your brain saying, “You are. We are making those extra five calls right now. You are excited about all the possibilities today.” Those kinds of things, say that to yourself.

Here is how the other present focus statements also may be constructed. “I support my team. I read and study critical information. I find the best in others.” Place Am in each of them becomes even more personal. Let's try it out. “I am supporting my team. I am reading and studying critical information. I am finding the best in others.” That puts you into the manifestation side. It creates an identity. The positive thinking is already turned on.

Let's rephrase what we went through. Past-focused talk is, “I would have, could have, should have.” Future-focused talk is, “I will do it. I need to do it. I'm going to do it. I plan to do it.” It doesn't get into the present tense and turns your brain on to get it done. If we use the “I am” and we have a sense of manifestation, self-affirmation, identity, and positive thinking, that kicks right in, such as, “I am supporting my team. I am reading and studying critical information. I am excited about all my possibilities today. I am finding the best in others today.”

A big alert here, though. Be careful. Avoid using “I am” for negative or conditional statements such as, “I am not good enough,” or, “I'm tired,” as this can reinforce negative beliefs about yourself. If you're tired, fine. Recognize it. You don't say, “I'm tired. Therefore, I will go on to that railroad track down the path.” Recognize it. It’s like, “I recognize I'm tired. Fine. I am still focused on making these calls. I am dedicated to my purpose to make this happen. I am tied to my persistence factor that gets me out of this tired zone.” Again, big alert. Watch out how you use “I am” regarding the negative side because it also manifests and gives you identity, but it turns off the positive side.

I Am: Avoid using “I am” for negative or conditional statements. These can reinforce negative beliefs about yourself.

Empower Your Mindset and Habitset With Self-Talk

Let me bring to your attention that there is a DCB Strategies one-page uplift available that goes through this positive self-talk and the power of it for mindset and habit set. It's available on our DCB website. It's titled Empower Your Mindset and Habitset With Self-Talk. You will see on this one page over fifteen growth-oriented categories that use the power of the “I am” phrase. Go to the website or email me at Podcast@DCBStrategies.com. I'll get this one-pager to you. No worries.

An example of the above reality is the time and time again confirmed as multiple clients of DCB Strategies and teams go through coaching efforts. When they embraced the I Am, it immediately changed the trajectory of multiple bold achievements within themselves and what they're accomplishing daily, and/or their team if they incorporated a couple of these I Am statements in their daily team mantra. It seems simple, right? It takes a boatload of determination, no doubt, and awareness to change a habit, and change it into this winning pattern of utilizing I Am.

Past talk is a habit. Future talk is a habit. To recreate the habit in the present talk of “I am” is so powerful. You have to break the other two habits. This doesn't occur to everything you do during the day, like, “I have to turn on the light.” Fine. Turn on the light. It’s that as opposed to, “I am turning on the light.” I get it. When it comes to bold goals and your important actions that need to be accomplished during the day, the week, the month, or the quarter, which could be 3 or 4 bold goals, those actions define and back your strategy to achieve it.

Remember, the bold goal is the big mountain we're climbing. The strategy is that we have 4 or 5 base camps that we need to get over in 4 or 5 days. The actions are every day for 8 to 10 hours. We are hiking with proper nutrition and oxygen. Those are the daily actions that back the strategy that lead to the bold goal. You may have 2 or 3 bold goals during a month, a quarter, or a week. Utilize the “I am” when it comes to actions to accomplish and achieve these, not “I will” or “I'm going to.”

Let's try it out. Take a goal and state it now. Take a goal that you want to achieve over the next month in business, personal, or in the community. Take a goal and state it in the “I am.” Was that hard to do? It was “I am,” not, “I am going to,” or, “I need to.” It’s, “I am losing ten pounds over the next month. I am increasing my revenue by 5% over the next month. I am allowing my business partner to be the best they can with my support next month.”

Take an action step that is to be completed daily to support your strategy of attaining this goal. State it. You need an action step to support that strategy, and then state it in the “I am.” It's difficult, but once you start working this through and recognize the awareness of stating it in “I am,” you'll see how powerful it is. Tell yourself how you're acting. That's a good one. “I am an example of a great attitude,” or, “I will be feeling better.” No, it should be, “I am feeling better. I am contagious with my passion.” Those are some examples. Get it?

Here's the a-ha moment. Here's something that triggers it. First thing tomorrow morning, decide how your day is. Let's recognize together that at the end of the day, we're a result of our decisions. Start your day something like this. “I am sharing my fabulous storyboard with ten prospects.” That's business-oriented. I get it. It's a great way to start your day.

Another could be, “I am filled with a great attitude all day. I'm contagious.” That is something that's powerful for your family, colleagues, professional prospects, clients, etc. I encourage you to start tomorrow morning using an I Am statement that sets you, chin up and shoulders back, in manifestation, positive self-identification, and a great attitude.

Do Not Be Too Proud To Recognize The Need For Adjustments

Over the years, with the teams and individuals I've had the opportunity to witness in person and/or from afar, one thing was apparent. The best in their class were never too proud to recognize the need for adjustments in their bold strategy and actions. This is more visible with top-level professionals in businesses and sports, for example.

Behind the scenes, though, for us, it requires persistence, practice, and a focus to stay on course in light of unforeseen distractions or unforeseen changes of circumstances to achieve the bold goals that we initially started. This is what separates us from the rest. Thus, to be the best. Don't be too proud to recognize the need for adjustments. This is a need for an adjustment. Recognize it and start practicing it.

I Am: Do not be too proud to recognize the need for adjustment.

Let me give you an example as we close this down. Have some fun. Go to your favorite, ChatGPT, and type in, “Show me the top athletes and CEOs that use I Am affirmations.” Sit back and check out all the names and personalities that have a profound influence in their space that use “I am” in a positive affirmation way. It's remarkable. It's no secret that it works. Start using it. Guess what? It's free. Effort is free. Use “I am” every day as you propel your actions to backfill your strategies to make sure your bold goals are achieved.

Episode Wrap-up And Closing Words

Let's close this up so you can get back to your bold goals, which is what it's all about, and daily achievements. Thanks for taking the time to learn about activating your best with I Am. This powerful mindset tool, no doubt, keeps you on your journey of optimizing growth and obtaining bold achievements. Remember, this is what separates the best from the rest. Thank you again. By the way, I am having my best day. Stay healthy, and stay passionate.

Important Links

• Empower Your Mindset and Habitset With Self-Talk

• Podcast@DCBStrategies.com

• Darren A. Cde Baca on LinkedIn