Are your fears consistently being fueled by your negative inner chatter? Why is it that you speak more kindly to your family, friends, and neighbors than you do to yourself? Negative self-talk, also known as cognitive distortions, are things we tell ourselves and believe they are true because they are often not examined, verified, or even challenged. Some common examples of negative self-talk include, I’m not good enough, I’m not smart enough, my hair looks terrible, I can never do this etc. This affects your mental health and ultimately leads to problems like poor performance at work or school, low self-esteem, inability to make friends, and general unhappiness. It’s time to get rid of your negative self-talk and view life from a more positive perspective.

Here are 4 ways to banish your negative self-talk for good:

Challenge Your Negative Talk

Studies show that most negative self-talk is untrue when honestly challenged or examined. Remember, these are only mental barriers which we have unconsciously built in our minds. They prevent us from facing our fears and overcoming our own limitations. More often, they are simply excuses we make up so that we can continue staying in our comfort zone.  Is it true? Challenge your own thoughts every time negative thoughts seep into your mind. With this, you may consciously replace negative thoughts with positive ones by always trying to find something good in all situations. Therefore, whenever you identify an underlying unfilled desire or anxiety that leads to negative self-talk, start re-framing your thoughts positively.

Start Your Day with Good Vision

Starting your day with better focus and seeing yourself doing things in the right ways helps you boost your self-esteem and feel happy. Start the day by reminding yourself that you can do it. With this kind of energy that is created in your mind, you’ll develop a more positive attitude throughout your day. This means that you won’t be hard on yourself.  The more you will put yourself in this state, the more you’ll reduce the chances of slipping into negative self-talk. More often, you’ll laugh off your mistakes rather than criticizing them.

Learn To Stay Aware Of Your Thoughts

Although everyone is aware of their conscious self-talk, some people are not aware of their inner thoughts; those that are below the conscious level. Usually, self-talk is found in the deeper level of the mind.  The best way to always stay aware of your self-talk is by ensuring you are more mindful. This requires you to pay attention to your thoughts whenever they arise. Some people find this awkward and foreign to their habits, but with repeated practice, they become better in paying attention to their own thoughts.

Stop Criticizing Others

If you are always criticizing others, then a lot of your time will be spent building a negative attitude; which can easily seep into your inner dialogue. Whenever you are critical about others, you’ll also tend to be more critical about yourself. This works in both ways. Try to work towards a more loving and supporting inner voice.