We’ve all done it: we look at ourselves in the mirror and right away our mind jumps to negative thoughts. We see ourselves as too big, too thin, too tall, too short, unloveable, and unworthy. At Soul Growth Counseling, I hear this a lot. It’s a common concern, and one that most of us have been guilty of at some point.
When these negative thoughts crop up, we’re presented with several options. We can follow the line of thoughts down to a place of self-doubt and harsh criticism; or, we can let the thoughts go and focus on the beauty we find in its place.
When faced with this situation, it’s likely that we want to push the negative thoughts away. Yet, while the choice seems clear, squashing negative thoughts can be a difficult thing to do. For some, it may even seem impossible. What happens when we are paralyzed or overwhelmed by our own negative self-talk? How can we cope, and what can we do to break free from the cycle? Well, first, let’s discuss what negative self-talk is.
What is negative self-talk?
Negative self-talk is defined as the expression – either aloud or silently – of feelings that are disparaging, harmful, and demoralizing. Negative self-talk can have a detrimental affect on your self-esteem and confidence and is a major contributor to anxiety. Negative self-talk is the result of long-held fears or skewed beliefs of oneself – rather than a reflection of our true being.
Does this resonate with you? Does you’re internal chatter do more harm than good? If so, there are strategies that can help you overcome this habit.
Strategies to overcome negative self-talk
There are several things you can do at home, and on a day-to-day basis, that will help to squash those negative thoughts as they appear:
1. Set an intention to speak nicely to yourself. Formulating and writing down intentions is a wonderful way to start to break old habits that you no longer need. Commit, in writing, to be kind to yourself and you’ll find that you’re one step closer to healing.
2. Give your negative voice a name. Being aware of your inner demeaning chatter is helpful for overcoming it. If you give your negative self-talk voice a name, you can start to disentangle it from who you really are, and tell it to go away.
3. Think about what your friends would say. Would your friends say you’re being too hard on yourself? Would they say that you’re overthinking it? Would they say that people have made mistakes much bigger than yours? Remember that you are your own harshest critic, and people love you for who you are.
4. Talk to yourself as you would talk to your friends. Conversely, don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to someone you love.
How to know when it’s gone too far
If negative self-talk is paralyzing your life, there are therapeutic treatment options available to you. You don’t need to live under the control of these thoughts, and you don’t need to struggle through them alone. At Soul Growth Counseling , I offer a variety of services that will help you overcome negative self-talk and free up your time to focus on living your best life. Contact me Today for a free consultation.
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