Since I’m an academic, I hear many students complain about low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. This is also one of the reasons why anxiety and hopelessness are rampant in today’s younger generation. Our youth suffers from self-doubt and pessimism and they don’t realize it can be toxic.
This autumn when you see trees shedding their leaves, remind yourself that you need to shed some old habits too. One of the most damaging habits you might have could be negative self-talk. You may not realize it, but the way you talk to yourself can sabotage your stress levels! We all experience negative self-talk from time to time, but it may become a routine if we’re not careful.
The way you talk to your inner self, the voice that constantly tries to make sense of the world around you, may make or break you. Self-talk is powerful, whether it is positive or negative. If you talk to yourself in a negative way on a daily basis, then you may be perceiving a situation as more stressful than it really is. You may not notice the progress you’re making in life because you are constantly focusing on the mistakes you made or a failure you faced at some point in life. You could also attribute negative motivations to people who aren’t hostile towards you just because you’re thinking negatively about who you come across. You may feel you aren’t ready to face the challenges in life because your inner voice tells you that you’re not good enough, or that you’ve got a C on your test, you’ll never be able to do anything right or be successful in life. Remember that thoughts shape how we act or what we become.
Habitual negative self-talk creates unnecessary anxiety and stress in your life. It can make you dwell in the past, contemplating failures rather than the successes you had. It also hinders your ability to believe in yourself and in your talent to achieve a goal. It can destroy your self-confidence and make you focus on the darker side of life, feeling despair. Talking to yourself negatively brings your motivation down, and prevents you from making positive changes in life. You may also transfer negativity to people around you including family members, which is hurtful.
Some researchers have linked negative self-talk to depression and other mental health problems. So in case you’re in the habit of criticizing yourself, it’s time you fix it.
Now, let’s look at ways we can silence our “mean” inner critic and focus less on being that “perfect self.” First of all, never say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to a treasured friend. Talk to yourself in encouraging ways, and be your own good friend first. Don’t take your negative thoughts seriously, they may not be based on reality and can be the result of just a temporary bad mood. Focus on the present, because thinking about long-term matters tends to maximize fear of the unknown and create a sense of urgency or anxiety. Don’t magnify your problems by brooding on them, it will not help you resolve anything. Share your problems with a trusted friend and let them help you. Indulge in healthy activities like taking a walk, going to a gym or visiting tourist spots. Keep away from “negative-minded” people who depreciate you.
Celebrate any small progress you make, and buy yourself a gift to remind yourself how far you’ve come in life through your unflinching efforts. Even if life isn’t great, there’s always something to be thankful for. Life could have been worse for many of us, but with the Grace of the Almighty God, things are always taken care of in mysterious, divine ways. We must take out time to pray and be grateful for what we have.
The habit you should be inculcating this autumn is to replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk. Being optimistic will help you cope with challenges in a better way, it will give your confidence a boost and motivate you to do your best. Here are some examples of how you can turn negative self-talk into positive:
Now you see why “saying is believing;” treat yourself in a good way and you’ll see that you become the best version of yourself. Positive self-talk builds a healthy immune system and is known for even curing diseases like cancer, that’s how powerful it can be. Have a great day!
The Writer's Dungeon 