If you find yourself criticizing your own choices, actions, and abilities, you may be engaging in negative self-talk. This form of inner dialogue can hinder us from making progress and achieving our goals, simply because we do not feel that we are capable of doing so. The use of positive daily affirmations can help us challenge negative thinking patterns so we can move forward confidently.
What is negative self-talk?
Negative self-talk occurs when we have an inner dialogue that is hypercritical of our own selves. It’s the constant loop of negative thinking that keeps us from finding self-acceptance and challenges our value of self-worth. This type of self-talk can occur for many reasons, including negative beliefs about ourselves, low self-esteem, or experiences where we were openly criticized.
How do we stop?
To stop negative self-talk, we have two options–switch our thoughts to become more positive, or challenge our negative thoughts individually. Challenging our thoughts can help us understand our longstanding beliefs that create it, which allows us to work on those beliefs in a more meaningful way. By changing our thoughts into more positive self-talk, we encourage ourselves to engage in more positive belief systems about ourselves. One great way to work on establishing positive beliefs is by incorporating positive affirmations into our lives.
What are affirmations?
Affirmations are short, positive phrases that we can use to encourage ourselves when challenging thoughts come up. They are typically one sentence long and highlight our strengths and abilities, and we can apply them to any area of our lives. They are often repeated frequently in order to remind ourselves of our positive traits. Some examples of affirmations include: “I am kind to myself and others” and “I am becoming more confident each day.”
How can I incorporate positive affirmations into my daily life?
There are many ways that affirmations can be incorporated into our daily routines, including:
- Repeating affirmations to ourselves when challenging thoughts arise.
- Scheduling time to repeat our affirmations, such as before we go to bed or when we wake up in the morning.
- Writing affirmations somewhere that we’ll see them often, such as on a bathroom mirror or on your desk at work.
- Journaling about our affirmations–writing them down can help us solidify these thoughts in our minds.
Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash