Talking to yourself seems so silly, right? Except we ALL do it. Admit it! You do it, too. Sometimes aloud, other times just in our thoughts, we communicate more with ourselves than with anyone else. Here's the thing, though: how much of that communication is positive? Granted, a good bit of it is to-do lists, observations, song lyrics that just... won't... leave us...
BUT how much of it is, what I consider to be, the worst kind of negativity? How much of it is negativity toward YOURSELF?
Self-aimed antagonism is something I've ALWAYS struggled with. Everything could be going absolutely fine in my life, but I have always somehow (easily) found something wrong with myself. Most of it has been physical, regarding my appearance - clothes, hair, weight, face, you name it. Part of it, too, has been self doubt in other aspects of my life. School, social life - doesn't matter. I have always, without question, been my own worst critic. Someone I care about once asked me, "What if someone talked to me the way you talk to yourself?" I answered with the obvious "I would kick their butt!" OF COURSE I would be upset if someone spoke to someone I care about in the harsh way I speak to myself. So why is it that it's acceptable for me to degrade myself or knock myself down?
The ONE person I have to live with every single day is myself. Shouldn't I be nice to me?
I took an Ethics class this past semester and one of our paper assignments was a project about habits. The option I chose was to become aware of the negative thoughts I had toward myself and to immediately change them into positive ones. It was really difficult and eye opening for me. I realized that even though I can consciously choose to not VOICE my self-negativity, the thoughts are still there and just as prominent as ever. As I was talking to my professor about my project, he admitted struggling with the same things throughout his life, and suggested I try using positive affirmations.
I'd heard of them, but never put much thought into it. I never really thought talking to myself, repeating some cheeseball phrase, could POSSIBLY help me. However, since my ethics professor is someone I admire a lot, I thought I'd at least look into it. I found some articles on using positive affirmations in your own life, and decided to put some into practice. AND HOLY CRAP THEY WORK.
It's still a conscious decision to be kind to myself, and some days are undoubtedly more difficult than others, but changing the way I communicate with myself has been a huge blessing.
If we are going to continue on this path of positivity, how can we do it if we doubt ourselves?!
Here's a short list of some affirmations I've used, and you are MORE than welcome to use as well, or as inspiration to create your own. My challenge to you is this: for ONE WEEK, repeat a couple positive statements and affirmations to yourself (OUT LOUD). In the mirror, or just before you get out of bed in the morning. Start and end your day with self love and take note of the results.
Example Affirmations
Affirmations for Health
This is a great post that also features 100 affirmations you can use in your daily life :)
*Example Affirmations found in THIS article
100 positive affirmations: http://www.prolificliving.com/100-positive-affirmations/
Morning affirmations: http://www.prolificliving.com/morning-affirmations-before-getting-out-of-bed/
Bedtime affirmations: http://www.prolificliving.com/bedtime-affirmations-for-sleep/
BUT how much of it is, what I consider to be, the worst kind of negativity? How much of it is negativity toward YOURSELF?
Self-aimed antagonism is something I've ALWAYS struggled with. Everything could be going absolutely fine in my life, but I have always somehow (easily) found something wrong with myself. Most of it has been physical, regarding my appearance - clothes, hair, weight, face, you name it. Part of it, too, has been self doubt in other aspects of my life. School, social life - doesn't matter. I have always, without question, been my own worst critic. Someone I care about once asked me, "What if someone talked to me the way you talk to yourself?" I answered with the obvious "I would kick their butt!" OF COURSE I would be upset if someone spoke to someone I care about in the harsh way I speak to myself. So why is it that it's acceptable for me to degrade myself or knock myself down?
The ONE person I have to live with every single day is myself. Shouldn't I be nice to me?
I took an Ethics class this past semester and one of our paper assignments was a project about habits. The option I chose was to become aware of the negative thoughts I had toward myself and to immediately change them into positive ones. It was really difficult and eye opening for me. I realized that even though I can consciously choose to not VOICE my self-negativity, the thoughts are still there and just as prominent as ever. As I was talking to my professor about my project, he admitted struggling with the same things throughout his life, and suggested I try using positive affirmations.
I'd heard of them, but never put much thought into it. I never really thought talking to myself, repeating some cheeseball phrase, could POSSIBLY help me. However, since my ethics professor is someone I admire a lot, I thought I'd at least look into it. I found some articles on using positive affirmations in your own life, and decided to put some into practice. AND HOLY CRAP THEY WORK.
It's still a conscious decision to be kind to myself, and some days are undoubtedly more difficult than others, but changing the way I communicate with myself has been a huge blessing.
If we are going to continue on this path of positivity, how can we do it if we doubt ourselves?!
Here's a short list of some affirmations I've used, and you are MORE than welcome to use as well, or as inspiration to create your own. My challenge to you is this: for ONE WEEK, repeat a couple positive statements and affirmations to yourself (OUT LOUD). In the mirror, or just before you get out of bed in the morning. Start and end your day with self love and take note of the results.
Example Affirmations
Affirmations for Health
- Every Cell in my body vibrates with energy and health
- Loving myself heals my life. I nourish my mind, body and soul
- My body heals quickly and easily
- I prosper wherever I turn and I know that I deserve prosperity of all kinds
- The more grateful I am, the more reasons I find to be grateful
- I pay my bills with love as I know abundance flows freely through me.
- I know that I deserve Love and accept it now
- I give out Love and it is returned to me multiplied
- I rejoice in the Love I encounter everyday
- I have a wonderful partner and we are both happy and at peace
- I release any desperation and allow love to find me
- I attract only healthy relationships
- I am the perfect weight for me
- I choose to make positive healthy choices for myself
- I choose to exercise regularly
- When I believe in myself, so do others
- I express my needs and feelings
- I am my own unique self - special, creative and wonderful
- All my relationships are loving and harmonious
- I am at peace
- I trust in the process of life
- Life is a joy filled with delightful surprises
- My life is a joy filled with love, fun and friendship all I need do is stop all criticism, forgive, relax and be open.
- I choose love, joy and freedom, open my heart and allow wonderful things to flow into my life.
This is a great post that also features 100 affirmations you can use in your daily life :)
*Example Affirmations found in THIS article
100 positive affirmations: http://www.prolificliving.com/100-positive-affirmations/
Morning affirmations: http://www.prolificliving.com/morning-affirmations-before-getting-out-of-bed/
Bedtime affirmations: http://www.prolificliving.com/bedtime-affirmations-for-sleep/