Have you ever paid attention to your inner dialogue? Do you even know that you have an inner dialogue? Most people are so busy in their lives that they haven't slowed down long enough to realize what is going on in their head. You have a little voice in your head that is constantly running a dialogue about everything that is happening in your life. It's important to become aware of your inner dialogue because that little voice is managing your life, without you even knowing it. At my company, The Handel Group, we have broken down that voice into two distinct personas: the chicken and the brat. We say any time you are not living your dream, you fall into one of two buckets -- the chicken or the brat.
The Chicken and the Brat Are Keeping You From Your Dreams
First, let's talk about the chicken. The chicken is the voice in your head that is fear-based. It appears in your life when it's time to speak up. For example, you need to have a difficult conversation with someone, but you keep putting it off because you're scared. You want to ask someone out on a date, but you don't because you're afraid of being rejected. Your boss asks you to work on the weekend, and you want to say no, but you're worried about how he may react. The chicken is a coward. It's afraid of the unknown and worries about the outcome.
The chicken is also the realistic voice in your head. You shouldn't apply to graduate school. You'll never get in. You're not smart enough. Where are you going to get the money? It's a dumb idea. The chicken stops you from going after what you really want by rationalizing away reasons it might not work out. It keeps you from moving forward in your life. The chicken is also accommodating. You're on a first date and your date wants to see a horror film. You hate horror films, but you say OK. You just met him and don't want to appear difficult. No, you were a chicken and afraid to express your true feelings.
The Chicken Does Not Take Risks and Will Convince You to Play It Safe
- Listen to your inner dialogue. You can't stop the chicken or the brat from running your life unless you're aware of them. Listen to your little voice. Pay attention to what it says. What is the chicken afraid to do? How is the brat manipulating you today? Once you can hear the chicken and the brat in your head, you are one step closer to getting those voices to shut up.