Those negative voices in your head—F**k em’

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I can’t do this” or “I’m not good enough” or “I’m so stupid”? Such thoughts are examples of negative self-talk, a common but often unnoticed habit that can significantly impact our mental health.

Negative self talk can significantly affect your self-confidence and quality of life, even influencing the way you interact with your loved ones.

To address negative self-talk, the first step is recognizing and acknowledging these patterns. Once identified, challenge these thoughts by asking yourself if they’re truly accurate or if there’s a more positive and realistic way to view the situation. In this post, I’ll share my favorite strategies for battling negative thoughts and instilling inner peace.

Practice Yoga:

Benefits include creating space between thoughts and emotions:

By observing your thoughts without judgment, you can detach from the negativity and create mental space to respond differently. This is a big one for me. Savasana (a valuable pose for restoring and renewing the body and mind) is a gift I give myself after every yoga class.

Meditate:

Benefits include developing self-compassion:
Meditation can help you develop self-compassion and remind yourself that you deserve kindness. I love a good kindness meditation to wake up to and a sleep meditation to end my day. Best part, you can do this anywhere like laying in bed, driving to work, etc.

Practice mindfulness:

Benefits include Interrupting the negative cycle:
Mindfulness can help you shift your attention to the present moment and create distance from your thoughts. This can be done during the most simple tasks like brushing your teeth. Focus on brushing each tooth and feel the bristles gliding across your gums.

Other strategies to reduce negative self-talk

Keep a journal
Writing down your thoughts can help you identify patterns of negative self-talk.
Practice positive affirmations
Positive affirmations can counteract negative beliefs and reinforce a more positive self-image.
Seek support
Talking to a trusted friend, family member or mental health professional can help you explore your thoughts and feelings.
Set realistic goals
Set goals that are achievable and realistic.

That persistent inner voice of self-criticism and self-doubt, Fuck it. You ARE good enough. You ARE worthy of your own love. You have a lot to offer. Treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion you extend to others.