It’s easy to allow negative thoughts to creep into our heads. Trying to keep up with everyone else in every way is sure to lead to disappointment and self-hatred. The messages we speak to ourselves are incredibly important, because our thoughts become our actions.
We don’t always have the power to change the messages that we hear on a daily basis. There is, however, one thing we have the ability to change. That one thing is our self-talk, and the messages that we allow ourselves to speak and hear.
Be Aware
So many of the words we speak to ourselves are negative. It is far too easy to slip into a mode of self-sabotage. Often times we are completely unaware of the ideas which circulate in our minds, and this leads us down a path that goes nowhere. In order to change our self-talk, we must be aware of what we are saying in the first place.
Positive Thoughts
Once you have removed the negativity from your mind, little by little begin to replace it with positive words. Repeating words of affirmation to yourself is necessary to fill your mind with the thoughts you need to succeed. When you have worked so hard to remove negative words from your mind, resist the urge to allow them to creep back in. Instead, chase them out with positive messages and words of self-encouragement.
Baby Steps
You won’t change your self-talk completely overnight. Lasting change takes time. Taking baby steps toward a goal is the best way to make a permanent change. Every time you realize that your self-talk is contributing to a negative self-image, stop and change direction. Put positive words in your mind and make a change.
The Company You Keep
If you want to make positive changes in your life, it’s important to surround yourself with positive people. Making positive changes in your self-talk will only last a certain amount of time if you are surrounded by a constant barrage of negativity. If the friends around you are bringing you down, have a gentle talk with them about the changes you desire to make. It could be that they don’t realize their negative influence. If things still don’t change, you may need to cut certain people out of your life in order to preserve the quality of it.
Each one of us has things we succeed at. Figure out what it is in your own life that inspires and encourages other people. Take note of your talents, abilities, and good character qualities and remind yourself about them often. Focus on the positive, and your weak areas will soon grow to catch up with the qualities that you feel confident about.
Most of us speak to ourselves on a daily basis without even realizing it. Learn to filter the words and thoughts that go through your mind. We need to clear out the old, negative cobwebs and make a choice to encourage and uplift ourselves. If we are going to speak to ourselves anyway, we might as well make it positive.
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