How to Stop Negative Self Talk to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

If you have a negative voice in your head that keeps undermining you then you are probably your own worse enemy when it comes to self-criticism. There can be a wide array of reasons why we have this negative dialogue which keeps going around on a loop, whether from childhood experiences, critical authority figures, or simply from negative people, we associate with daily. Finding out why we are so critical of ourselves, is an important step in enabling us to overcome this negativity and develop a more reassuring and supportive relationship with ourselves. Unfortunately, we believe what we tell ourselves. If you think that you will not be able to do something, then the chances are that you won’t be able to do it. Below are a few simple tips that will help you bring negative self-criticism under control: Say Stop Quite simply don’t allow negative self-talk to get a hold. Say STOP to the negative feedback loop. The longer you talk yourself into fear and avoidance the more ingrained the thought pattern becomes, which then makes it difficult to eradicate. So banish that negative dialogue before it takes hold. Put negative experiences and thoughts behind you.- Deal with the negativity straight on Be assertive and positively express your feelings. Don’t bottle things up and let negative self-talk take hold. Talking your way out – Deal with the negative thoughts by acknowledging them but don’t give them any airtime. Disagree with that inner critic, and forget about it. Use positive affirmations to counter self-criticism. Distract yourself with another task – This simply means doing something else, ideally a positive exercise, one that hopefully should improve your positivity. Find a task which you know how to complete well or an activity which taxes your brain, but that you are good at. Question your negativity – If you have a recurring negative thought that will not go away, then question its validity. Ask yourself, is that true? Look at it from a different perspective. Imagine yourself, looking at yourself and giving yourself positive feedback as if you are talking to a friend. Set time aside – Write a list of the common phrases you say to yourself and that hold you back in life. Turn these phrases into positive statements and keep repeating them to yourself. By setting time aside to deal with negative self-talk, you take back control from your inner critic. The reality is that negative self-talk can be overcome. You can be happier and enjoy life more if you become your own best friend rather than your worst enemy.