At some point in our lives, we all encounter that little voice inside that tells us that we can't do something or that we are not good enough. There is some negative thought that we have about ourselves that leads us into engaging in negative self-talk. This negative self-talk can take the form of negative talk about our appearance, about us not feeling good enough, or worries that something is about to go wrong. We can all relate to how disheartening this can be. As much as we try to evade negative self-talk, here's one interesting thing that we often do not talk about enough. Negative self-talk comes from negative thinking and negative thinking is normal. Say what you say? Yes. Negative thinking is normal. Everybody has negative thoughts sometimes. The key to solving this issue is the recognition that we do not have to believe those negative thoughts.
Negative thinking really holds us back in our lives. It affects our self-esteem, our self-confidence, and how we feel about ourselves. Negative thinking can affect our behaviors and the choices that we make. Our minds are constantly thinking, thinking, thinking. We don't really think about how much we actually think. However, when you try to slow down, meditate, or even participate in a yoga class, it suddenly becomes very apparent to us just how much chatter is going on inside of those minds of ours. I'd be remiss if I was not transparent with you in that we cannot completely eradicate all negative self-talk or thoughts. Though we all have negative thoughts, it is important to not allow those negative thoughts to run amok. It is within our power to learn how to manage our thoughts so that we are not held back in our lives, our jobs, and our relationships. With some practice and education on this matter, we all can learn to control our thoughts.
In our article, "Challenging the Story: 3 Questions to Challenge Your Negative Self-Talk," we explored how the assumptions and stories that we create in our minds (positive or negative) help create our reality. We weren't born to lean towards negative thoughts but we certainly learned to. The more we heard negative things about ourselves, the more we rehearsed it, and the more we argued about it, and eventually the more we began to believe it. That article also provided the 3 magical questions to ask yourself to help you overcome negative self-talk. Do you recall what the 3 questions were?
This article won't spend time rehashing the previous because I want to bring something new for you to consider. One thing that has really helped me with my own negative self-talk is to pause and challenge each negative thought with at least 3 positives. We want to say positive things about ourselves geared against the negative self-talk. Stuck on where to start? Here are 50 positive thoughts and affirmations to help challenge some of your trickiest negative thoughts.
I am capable of overcoming any challenge that comes my way. | I am grateful for all the blessings in my life. |
I am in control of my own happiness and choose to be joyful. | I am enough just as I am. |
I forgive myself for past mistakes and allow myself to move forward. | ​I release all negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. |
I am surrounded by beauty and find joy in the little things. | ​I am confident in my abilities and trust in my skills. |
I choose to let go of what no longer serves me and make space for new opportunities. | I am deserving of love, happiness, and success. |
I am proud of my unique qualities and embrace my individuality. | ​I am proud of my accomplishments and celebrate my wins. |
My voice matters. | I am a magnet for positive experiences and positive people. |
​I choose to focus on the present moment and find joy in it. | I am resilient, and I bounce back from setbacks stronger than before. |
My positive thoughts create positive feelings. | I am open to receiving love and support from others. |
I am worthy of success in all areas of my life. | I am a source of inspiration and positivity for others. |
I release the need for perfection and embrace my imperfections. | I am worthy of all the success and happiness that comes my way. |
​I am guided by my inner wisdom and make decisions with clarity and confidence. | The more I let it go, the better I will feel. |
I release any limiting beliefs and embrace my unlimited potential. | ​I radiate positivity and attract positive experiences. |
​I am worthy of love and give love unconditionally. | I am deserving of inner peace and cultivate it daily. |
I am surrounded by abundance, and it flows effortlessly into my life. | ​I am confident in my abilities to achieve my goals. |
​I embrace change and see it as an opportunity for growth. | I am a strong and resilient individual who can overcome any obstacle. |
I am proud of who I am becoming and the progress I have made. | Every day is a fresh start. |
I have the power to create the life I desire. | It's okay to not know everything. |
I am confident in expressing my thoughts and opinions. | I am worthy of pursuing my passions and living a life of fulfillment. |
I am grateful for the love and support that surrounds me. | I only compare myself to myself. |
I am grateful for the lessons I have learned from past experiences. | I am capable of creating a life filled with purpose and meaning. |
I believe in my abilities and trust in my intuition. | I embrace challenges as opportunities for personal growth and transformation. |
I am in control of my thoughts, and I choose to focus on the positive. | I am worthy of respect and treat others with respect and kindness. |
My mistakes help me learn and grow. | I trust in the process of life and have faith in my journey. |
I matter. | I am grateful for my body and treat it with love and respect. |
So, what do you think? Do you see any affirmations that you'd like to incorporate as a part of your thought changing process? Please tell us your favorites in the comments below, even if your favorites are not on this list. Of course, this list is not an all-inclusive list of the positive thoughts and affirmations you can shift towards when negative thinking and negative self-talk start to rear their heads. A simple internet search can help you further develop your own personal go-to's. Or maybe your favorite religious text may have a quote that you can add to your positive self-talk repertoire.
Pausing and becoming aware of our thinking is essential to changing our thinking. Slowing down, getting really curious and gentle with ourselves, and noticing the thoughts can help us along our way to changing the negative self-talk channel. Consciously challenging and replacing negative thoughts and negative self-talk takes time and patience. So please remember, as you begin this journey, do not worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Until next time. Happy reading.
"My mind's my kingdom." ~Francis Quarles
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