Negative self-talk or "stinkin' thinkin' " sabotages self-confidence, fosters procrastination, and is a primary contributor to doubt, irrational fear, and anxiety. It often results from long-forgotten but nonetheless influential criticism, the thoughtlessness of others, or the disregard or neglect of someone important in your life.
We know what we learn and learn what we are taught, hence, how often do I have to hear "you will never amount to anything" or "you are a real disappointment" before I start to believe what I am being taught?
But although I know what I have learned and learned what I was taught, that does not represent all there is to know. Someone else's opinion is not synonymous with fact. And my negative self-talk is simply the thoughts I have that echo those opinions of others and THOUGHTS ARE NOT FACTS.
Because thoughts are not facts, we can challenge and refute them. Referring back to my previous post, I might ask myself, "Robert...where's the proof that ____ is fact? And even if there is some history that suggests it was so in the past, what's to say it must always be?"
What follows is the first of several affirmations or "negative self-talk challenging messages" that may help improve confidence and self-respect as well as turn down the volume just a bit on the "stinkin' thinkin' "
If one or more of these affirmations resonate for you, write it down and look for opportunities to speak it aloud (if alone) or read it to yourself several times a day...the more you practice, the lower the volume on negative self-talk. (if you want an exercise designed to help you accomplish this, leave a note in the comments section below). NOTE: Established negative thinkers will react to these affirmations when first reading them as if they are nonsense. Say/read them anyway..."fake it till you make it"
AFFIRMATION #1: • Everything that happens around me shall work out for the good of all concerned o When I do my best and work my hardest I will succeed. If success in my specific task eludes me, then the success is learning from the experience - What do I do next time? What could I do differently next time? What can I avoid next time? What can I add to my plan next time? No one ever fails, we simply succeed at learning what to try differently next time.
