Shadowing Practice: How To Block Negative Thoughts | Motivated - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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- Do you realize that every day you thought you wasn't gonna make it, do you remember them days where you thought it was absolutely unbearable and you thought you wasn't gonna endure that one?
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Do you know that your survival rate for every last one of them bad days is 100 percent?
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You, your track record for surviving bad days is 100 percent, that's a fact.
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Your track record, you batting 1000.
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You done survived every funk (beep) day you ever had.
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You survived every hater, you survived all the evictions, you've survived the firings, you've survived all the tell you "no we ain't hiring", you've survived all the trouble you ever been in.
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Your survival rate is 100 percent.
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100 percent.
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(applause) All you got to do is start changing the way you think.
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It's as simple as-- it's not a magic trick.
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You can protect yourself from negativity, and that's what stops most people.
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Negative thoughts.
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You can coat your mind from negativity, it's a real simple exercise to do.
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I do it every morning before I walk out the door, so I walk out as a positive person.
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You know, I get tired sometimes.
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That's different from being negative, because I get mentally drained from my job at times.
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But to coat your mind from negativity, the way you can put a coating around your mind is with one simple thing.
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Gratitude. Gratitude erases negativity.
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I'm gonna show you how this works.
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If you wake up in the morning, you start having negative thoughts, man this ain't my day, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, I'm trippin', I just don't feel myself.
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Every time you feel-- in the middle of the day if you feel yourself doing that, stop.
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Just stop for a second, and start going over in your mind everything you have to be grateful for.
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Not everything you want, everything you already have.
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Because what you have is substantial.
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You just haven't gone over the list and taken inventory in a long time, but the fact that you can walk, that's a blessing.
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The fact that you woke up, that's another blessing.
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The fact that you can see, think, reason, that's another blessing.
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The fact that you can go somewhere and get yourself something to eat, that's another blessing.
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The fact that you can go and turn a key and call someplace home, that another blessing.
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The ability to dream is a blessing.
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The fact that you have an opportunity to get it right, is another blessing.
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The fact that you're beautiful, that's another blessing.
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The fact that you have any measure of health, that's another blessing.
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And I'm just talking to you, and I don't even know you.
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I can give you 50 things you ought to be grateful for right now and I don't even know you.
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Start coating your mind with gratitude, it'll change everything for you.
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(applause)

Who Will Benefit from This Video?

This video is perfect for intermediate English learners aiming to boost their speaking skills while staying motivated. Whether you’re practicing shadowing with a shadowing app or just want to sound more natural, the conversational tone and relatable content make it easy to follow. It’s ideal for anyone looking to learn English with YouTube, as the speaker’s pace and clarity help with both comprehension and pronunciation.

Words & Idioms Worth Stealing

Here are standout phrases to add to your toolkit:

  • Batting 1000: Having a perfect record (e.g., "My friend’s batting 1000 with job interviews lately").
  • Coat your mind: Protect your thoughts (e.g., "I coat my mind with positive affirmations daily").
  • Trippin’: Overreacting or feeling off (e.g., "I was trippin’ earlier, but now I’m calm").
  • Take inventory: Reflect on what you have (e.g., "I take inventory of my blessings weekly").

How to Get the Accent Right

The speaker uses a dynamic, conversational style—key for shadow speak practice. Focus on: - Stress and rhythm: Emphasize words like "100 percent" and "gratitude" to match the motivational tone. - Contractions: Notice "ain’t," "you’ve," and "don’t" to sound natural. - Pausing for effect: Copy the short pauses after impactful lines (e.g., "Your survival rate is 100 percent. [Pause] 100 percent.") Practice with a shadowing app to mimic the pace—this will sharpen your pronunciation and fluency. Remember, shadowspeaks techniques work best when you repeat phrases aloud, matching the speaker’s energy. By focusing on these elements, you’ll not only improve your English but also adopt a more confident, positive way of speaking. Start today—your 100 percent track record of progress starts now!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →