Kreatures Of Habit Podcast: "Talk to Yourself Like a Champion Every Morning | Monday Moments"

Host: Michael Chernow | Date: January 12, 2026

Episode Overview

In this solo "Monday Moments" episode, Michael Chernow dives into the power of self-dialogue, especially at the start of a new year. Drawing analogies from sports locker rooms before the big game, Chernow explores how talking to yourself like a champion each morning can profoundly shape your mindset, boost self-belief, and set the tone for achieving your goals. The episode is a motivational push geared toward listeners grappling with New Year resolutions and considering the mental conversations that drive—or hinder—their success.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Champion’s Mentality: Locker Room Pep Talks

• Visualizing Success: Michael opens by inviting listeners to picture the high-energy atmosphere in a football locker room before the Super Bowl. He suggests modeling your self-talk after that victorious, unstoppable mindset.
  • Quote:

    "There is no chance we lose. There is no chance they win. We know what we gotta do and we're damn good at doing it. There is no one that's gonna stand in our way."
    — Michael Chernow (00:13)

• Daily Self-Dialogue: He challenges his audience to have that same "locker room" talk with themselves each morning, emphasizing that this may sound "cheesy" but truly works in practice.
  • Quote:

    "Imagine that was the conversation you had with yourself in the morning. I know that might sound cheesy and corny, but I'm here to tell you that it works."
    — Michael Chernow (00:48)

The Importance of Self-Awareness and Intentional Self-Talk

• Critical Role of Self-Dialogue: Michael frames internal conversations as central to achieving any goal, describing self-dialogue as the backstage energy fueling daily performance and perseverance.
  • Quote:

    "The conversations that I have with myself are incredibly critical to the success of any goal I put down on paper or in front of me."
    — Michael Chernow (01:19)

• Practicing Out-Loud and In-Head Pep Talks:
  • He confesses to using both silent and out-loud self-talk.
  • Self-awareness is vital; consciously choosing your internal narrative can set you up for success or failure.

Counteracting Self-Doubt and the Default of Negative Thinking

• Acknowledging the Brain’s Default:
  • Michael points out that the human mind often defaults to self-doubt:

    "[Our] brain likes to say, oh man, I don't know if that's a possibility for me... Let me think about it a little bit more... I don't know if I can do it."
    — Michael Chernow (02:29)

• Choosing the Harder Path of Positivity:
  • It's easier to doubt, but he gives listeners permission to actively and boldly replace those thoughts:

    "I'm giving you permission. Fuck it. Have that talk with yourself in the morning. Why not? Why wouldn't you?"
    — Michael Chernow (03:31)

The Sports Analogy: No Matter the Odds, the Mindset Remains

• Giants Fan Example:
  • As a diehard New York Giants fan, even when his team is having a losing season, he emphasizes the unshakeable pre-game hype:

    "You think that the locker room conversation before a game sounds like, man, I don't think we can get out there and win today?... Hell no. Every game, the locker room is chanting. They're riling each other up. They're getting excited for the battle. We are going to win this game."
    — Michael Chernow (04:10)

• Mindset Is More Than the Outcome:
  • He stresses that this mentality isn't just about results—it's about choosing to face the day as a winner regardless of the odds.

The Choice is Yours: Win the Day or Not

• Actionable Takeaway:
  • Every day, you have the chance to choose a winning mindset from the moment you get out of bed:

    "You have the ability to walk into every single day thinking it's a winning day... How are you going to walk in? How are you going to step on the field? Already have won."
    — Michael Chernow (05:03)

• Turn Up Your Self-Awareness:
  • Don’t let negative inner voices hold you back—crank up your self-belief and take the leap in 2026.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There is no single person, human object, anything that can stop us from getting the win if impossible. No one, nothing. We are a team. You're going to take it to the finish line. There is no other day but today.”
  — Michael Chernow (00:19)
• “Self awareness is very important when we're having this ... the self-dialogue conversation.”
  — Michael Chernow (01:29)
• "It's so much easier to think that way. So much harder to have the mindset of, 'I've got this. We're gonna win. No chance we lose. I am unstoppable, unbeatable, undefeatable, period.'"
  — Michael Chernow (02:51)
• "You have the option to choose how you're going to walk in, the decisions that you're going to make from the minute you step out of bed. ... Turn your self awareness volume up now. Don't let that voice in your head talk you off of taking the leap. It's 20, 26, y'all. Now's the time. Let's fucking go."
  — Michael Chernow (05:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:13] — Locker room pep talk analogy and internalizing a champion’s dialogue
• [01:19] — Why self-dialogue is critical to goal achievement
• [02:29] — Common internal doubts vs. intentional positive self-talk
• [03:31] — Giving yourself permission to hype yourself up
• [04:10] — New York Giants example: Mindset in the face of defeat
• [05:03] — The power of choosing your daily mindset and winning the day
• [05:30] — Call to action: "Now's the time. Let's fucking go."

Summary

In this high-energy "Monday Moment," Michael Chernow arms listeners with a practical and motivating framework for tackling each day like a champion. By borrowing the intensity and confidence of pre-game speeches, he makes a compelling case for transforming internal conversations to support achievement and resilience—regardless of prior setbacks or lingering doubts. The message is clear: switch up your self-talk, channel a winner’s mindset, and start 2026 strong.