What’s your attitude towards yourself? What is your self-image? How do you approach life? Do you view things from a half-empty or half-full perspective? Do you believe that you can change your negative thinking and negative self-talk?

Would you like to become a person that views life from a positive thinking and positive self-talk perspective?

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What are the benefits of overcoming negative thinking?

Are you wondering if there are any benefits to overcoming negative thinking and negative self-talk? I’m so glad you ask. According to an article from Mayo Clinic, The positive thinking that usually comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management. And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. I agree when they say you can learn positive thinking skills if you tend to be pessimistic, don’t despair.

Link to the article.

Sweet, I think that’s good news is you can absolutely learn positive thinking skills. 

Along with positive thinking will come positive self-talk.

You change from the inside out, which begins with shifting your negative thinking and self-talk to kinder, positive thinking and self-talk.

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Shift the Old Patterns

Shifting the old patterns of negative self-talk and thinking begins with awareness. It is a decision to no longer speak to yourself negatively. What if you drop the old pattern of negative self-talk? Look for ways to flip the script in your head from the negative to the positive. Be patient. This is a practice. 

Here are a few examples of how to do this.

• I’m not able to change. Shift it, too I’m willing to give change a try.
• I don’t know how to do it. Shift it to That’s okay, I may not know right now, and I’m figuring it out. The answers are coming. The answers always come.
  • I know for sure that this one works, as I use it. It was given to me by my coach and I’m giving it to you to try out. 
• Pause and get clear about why you're speaking to yourself in a negative matter.
• Take notice of your self-talk.
• You’ll be more aware as you pay attention to your patterns. The things that trigger you into negative thinking and self-talk.
• Pay attention to your repeat or nagging questions. Turn your question into a sentence. That’s your thought error. It’s essential to notice your thoughts.
• Practice positive thinking. Begin to create a habit of positive thinking.

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Self Love

Have you heard of Mirror Work before? If not, please let me introduce you to the late Louise Hay and Mirror Work. Lousie says that mirror work is the most effective method she found for learning to love yourself and see the world as a safe and loving place. I encourage you to read this post on What is Mirror Work?

What has you talking to yourself in ugly ways? C’mon, friend, you know that ugly talk. What “shoulds” are you telling yourself? Is all this chatter in your mind true, or are they your thoughts?

Where is the chatter coming from? 

Begin to pay attention to the areas in your life where self-doubt comes up for you. What ugly thoughts are going on in your brain?

Additionally, are you able to pinpoint any patterns of your self-doubt? After all, overcoming self-doubt requires us to consciously become aware of the chatter going on in our minds.

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Failure

I can almost hear you thinking I do not like getting things wrong or failing. Here’s the bottom line it is okay to fail.

Overcoming self-doubt will require a change in mindset regarding our perception of failure. Look at failure as redirection. Failure will be your feedback to get on the right track. Think of it more are rerouting you for a change in direction.

Self-Compassion

Practice self-compassion when your thoughts take you into a spiral of self-doubt. Most important, don’t be discouraged with yourself.

When your mind begins the spiral into comparing yourself to others or your overly harsh critic begins to chime in. Seeing that thinking is how you overcome your self-doubt with self-compassion.

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Ugly Self-Talk

Do you know what ugly self-talk you use? Simultaneously it seems to go hand and hand with your self-doubt? You say all those nasty things to yourself that you’d never say to anyone else. Be sure to take notice of your ugly self-talk. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, write it down along with how you’ll overcome the self-doubt next time. Set a better intention for yourself. 

While it will get easier to notice your thoughts of self-doubt, it is not a one-and-done activity. Undeniably, you will have times when you’ll be disappointed. Your ugly, doubting self will be right there to make you feel crappy. Regardless, how you rebound from it is vital.

You will feel overwhelmed with life; that’s normal. We all feel that way.

Still remain focused on questioning your self-doubt. Rejoice and be proud of yourself when you notice your thoughts. This is feedback to you.

The best thing you can do is create a plan for handling these thought setbacks when they arise. They will come. When they do have a plan to manage your ugly thoughts regarding your self-doubt.

Ultimately, get an encouragement partner. The cheerful voice in your ear for when you do not have the strength to overcome your self-doubt.

In the end, self-doubt is worrying about what may or may not happen.

I’ll leave you with this verse from Matthew 6:27 NLT to ponder. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

It’s funny; while we know comparison is the thief of joy, why do we still get stuck in comparison. After all, has comparing yourself to someone else moved you forward by leaps and bounds? 

How you see yourself

Often we do not step back to see ourselves as others see us. In truth, others can see our strengths easier than we can. 

One of my very favorite phrases is you can’t read the label from inside the bottle. 

Our minds are happy in the bottle; they feel safe and comfortable. 

Even if it keeps us stuck in comparison. 

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While stuck in comparison 

Can you think of a time when you were comparing yourself to someone else, fueled by your ugly thought about yourself? Am I right?

Honestly, how does that feel? I’m guessing pretty crappy. Or maybe that’s just me that feels like my ugly thoughts drag me through the mud sometimes. 

Get Unstuck

You must be wondering how to get unstuck. The solution is simple start comparing yourself to your own self. 

How does that change your thinking when you see yourself as your greatest competitor?

I think you’ll agree with me when I say that it causes discontent with our own lives when we look outside ourselves.

And this is where people run into trouble; somehow, you think your life doesn’t look as good as someone else's.

After all, I genuinely believe that our path is full of lessons to learn in this lifetime.

Choice

What if you choose every day to be happy and celebrate yourself and your progress? How would that change your world for you?

Why not look at how far you’ve come on your path toward your goals verse stuck in comparison.  Choosing to be happy with your progress will, in turn, push you farther ahead on your journey.

Without a doubt, the goals you want to achieve were put on our hearts for a reason.

Instead of staying stuck in comparison, look at what you’re working to achieve. Praise your progress. Look for the joy in your progress.

Do you want to look back on your life with regret because you did not take the time to embrace happiness in the little moments? Or would you like to choose right now to stop comparing yourself to others? The choice is always in your court. 

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