This report includes powerful tips related to limiting negative self-talk.
It also includes 3 actionable steps you can take right away to get started on limiting negative self-talk.
TOP TIPS
Most people have dealt with some sort of negativity their entire lives. Negative experiences start during childhood and continue throughout our adult lives. These experiences allow negative self-talk to develop. This is a normal part of life that we all deal with. Limiting negative self-talk, however, can improve one’s life and experiences. Even the Mayo Clinic recommends that people limit the amount of negative self-talk that they experience.
There is no reason that negativity needs to be a drain. Most people will surely avoid negative people as much as possible and will reduce their contact with them to an absolute minimum. It can also be a downward spiral. So what would do if you’re suffering from an excess of negativity that’s maybe even leading you into depression?
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1. Be grateful more often
Gratitude is a powerful weapon against negativity.
Gratitude is pretty much the opposite of negativity and once you learn to be grateful more often, then you’ll find that your negativity struggles to cope with your newfound gratitude.
At first, just say “thank you” more often. Ideally, out loud but at least in your head.
Find necessary things to be grateful for – the air you’re breathing, the clothes you’re wearing, anything!
If possible, keep a gratitude journal and write down at least three things that have happened during the day that you’re grateful for. This will help put your mind in the right place to sleep.
2. Get more exercise
Exercise releases endorphins into your body.
These are a natural “feel good” mechanism that acts faster, better, and safer than any drug (prescription or otherwise), and they are generated when you exercise.
Exercise doesn’t have to mean going to the gym or pool or even jogging.
It can be as simple as leaving the car at home for short journeys or parking a bit further away from the store entrance.
Or you could deliberately go out for a walk! That works nicely so long as the weather isn’t too inclement.
3. Eat healthily
Comfort food is often anything but comforting.
It may be something you eat that gives you a quick sugar high, but that’s soon followed by the negative side of eating food that’s not exactly healthy.
Cut down on excess sugar.
Gradually cut down on the caffeine (it’s not a good idea to remove caffeine from your diet in one swoop).
Make slightly healthier choices when you eat – even if that means reading the labels. A good rule is not to eat things where you don’t understand several of the ingredients and wouldn’t add them if you were making the recipe at home. So if you don’t keep high fructose corn syrup or its artificial partner aspartame in your kitchen, don’t buy products with them in them.
4. Hypnotize yourself
Do not get bothered by this. This is not a big deal. You actually do this a lot more than you think you do.
Negativity isn’t something you’ve chosen to do.
It’s something your subconscious mind has developed as a protection mechanism for you.
Just as you can’t tell your nails to stop growing – it’s not easy to remove negativity or depression at a conscious level.
Hypnosis works by working with your subconscious mind to subtly change your behavior and reduce the negativity in your life.
It’s easy – all you do is listen to a hypnosis recording (easier and more flexible than visiting a hypnotist) and let it work its magic.
Too often though, our thoughts become negative as well. Even more troubling is when we start talking to ourselves in a negative manner. This negative self-talk is one of the most limiting behaviors one can deal with.
Use these tips to help overcome negative thoughts.
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Distinguish between negative thoughts and critical thinking.
We need to have a certain amount of self-critique, otherwise, we will never believe that we are doing something wrong. However, you need to recognize when that critiquing becomes negative self-talk. When you can distinguish between these, it will lead to a better situation.
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Accept failure.
If you like to beat yourself up whenever you fail, you are in for a steep road ahead. You will fail, and you will do it many times in your life. Embrace this as a gift rather than a burden. Try to view failure as more of a lesson learned. Don’t tell yourself you are a failure, tell yourself that you just learned what doesn’t work.
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Repeat daily affirmations.
You should look for affirmations that fit your current life situation. Use these as often as you can. Try repeating these affirmations every day. You should even write them out on a piece of paper and keep them close. The idea here is to program your mind for positive thinking. The more you keep at it, the more natural it will become. Ideally, those negative things you tell yourself will eventually be taken over by your positive affirmations.
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Limit your exposure to people who are negative.
These people thrive on negativity and enjoy dragging others down with them. If you cannot avoid them altogether, spend as little time with them as possible. You already struggle with negative self-talk, so you don’t need them adding more negativity. If you spend more time with positive people that build you up, your negative self-talk will naturally reduce.
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Learn to see the good in people.
If you are always thinking negatively of others, it makes sense that you will more naturally think negatively about yourself. Being more open-minded towards others will help you be more accepting of your own flaws as well.
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Realize that negative thinking is a choice.
Even though you have been bombarded with it since you were a child, thinking negatively is something you choose to do. Conversely, positive thinking is just as much a choice as negative thinking. Choose positive thinking. This isn’t an easy quick fix, it takes a lot of work and practice. …so start now!
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Strengthen your self-belief.
Negative thinking often occurs due to a lack of belief in yourself. When you strengthen your confidence, it will help you get through those times that bring you down. Learn to accept failure as a tool to help you succeed. Yes, really.
Do you also have a bit of a problem with feeling overwhelmed or time management? The two are connected.
I know a lot of people do, and I would bet you may find yourself being overwhelmed at least sometimes.
There are a few other posts, but these might get you thinking about how you use your thinking now. Becoming aware of how often you have negative thoughts is a good start to start being more positive. You cannot change something if you do not know that it is happening, right?
If you are still reading, I really appreciate that. Thank you. If you found this helpful, please share it and/or make a comment and let me know what resonated with you.
If you are in college, or thinking about attending, check out my new Facebook group. Join today and help me build a group that is really useful to adult college students.
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Did you just realize you lost points on your assignment because you forgot to do something?
Was that one too many face-palms for you?
My assignment checklist can help you remember the details.
Check it out! It is FREE!!!!
If you have any questions or comments, please leave me a note.
Valerie
Updated 13 March 2023