SELF-TALK

Ever find yourself thinking “I’m not good enough,” “I’ll never learn how to do that,” “I’m too fat,” “I’m too old,” or “I’m in terrible shape”?

You’re not alone. Negative self talk is common. It’s that voice in your head that criticizes you, compares you to others, and sabotages your happiness and self esteem. We all have it, but the key is to silence it.

Once you’re aware of a negative thought, you might simply tell that voice to “shut up!” Or, you can challenge it – “Totally not true!” I tend to do both.

But you can also replace the negative thought with a positive one and focus your energy on that positive message. Basically, you’re turning negative self-talk into positive self talk, and many people choose to do that. It’s similar to giving yourself affirmations.

Here are examples to get you started. Have more? Send them to me so I can consider adding them to this page.

Want to learn more about negative self-talk – triggers and in-depth strategies for stopping it? Get in touch!

“Everyone is doing better than I am.”
“I don’t need to compare—I’m on my own journey, and only compare myself to myself.”

“I sounded so stupid.”
“Most people don’t overanalyze my words like I do.”

“I don’t have enough time.”
“I make time for what matters most to me.”

“It’s all been done before.”
“No one else has done it my way.”

“People will laugh at me at the gym” (or wherever you go to learn something new).
“Most people are too busy worrying about themselves to even look at me, much less laugh at me,
and if they do laugh, that’s their problem, not mine.”

“I always mess things up.”
“Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and that’s okay.”

“I’ll never get out of debt.”
“I can take small, consistent steps and pay off what I owe.”

“I’ll never be as good as [X].”
“I focus on my progress, not others’.”