5 Ways Your Negative Self-Talk is Holding You Back
People tend to be their own worst critics. It’s easy to get down on ourselves and feel like we aren’t good enough, no matter how successful we are in life or how hard we try. But what if all the negative self-talk you were doing was actually having a negative impact on your success? Here are five things to stop telling yourself.
1. I’m Going to Fail
Anyone who is successful has failed at something, but if you’re constantly telling yourself that you are going to fail, then guess what? Chances are high that you will head down that road. Those self-defeating words will actually work against your chances of being successful.
It’s very easy to slip into the habit of putting ourselves down all the time, especially when we find it easier than being positive and optimistic about our life and environment. But even though you might be inclined to say, “I can’t do this,” or “I can’t handle that,” realize that you can handle a lot more than you give yourself credit for.
2. I’m Not Good Enough
When you tell yourself that you’re not good enough before even beginning a task or project, it means that you’re setting yourself up for failure. If your mind is only focused on the fact that it is going to do poorly from the get-go, then that negative mindset will surely come to fruition. It also amplifies this if your boss or one of your colleagues tells you this.
Whatever you’re doing in life, ensure that you believe in your abilities and don’t put negative thoughts on yourself or your chances of success. If something doesn’t go as planned and it seems like the whole world is crashing down around you, remind yourself how good you are and how much you’ve accomplished.
3. I Don’t Deserve _________
Whether it is a promotion, recognition, a bonus, more time off, or even love, or anything else that you want in your life, negative self-talk will only stand in the way of getting what you want. It’s easy to head down that negative path and believe that you don’t deserve good things when these negative thoughts creep up on you. But remember that anything worth having is worth working hard for, and negative self-talk will only make the journey more difficult.
When negative self-talk starts to affect your everyday life, it’s usually a sign that you need to make some changes for the better. Negative thoughts can lead to negative actions, and negative actions almost always lead to negative consequences. The worst thing about negative self-talk is that it can be very disheartening.
It’s usually negative self-talk that makes you feel like giving up on something or making you afraid to even try in the first place, but it is important to realize that negative thoughts are far from reality. Just because negative self-talk tells you nothing will work out for you, it doesn’t mean that it’s true.
4. I Can’t Stop __________
The negative things we tell ourselves can be a real barrier to success if we’re not careful. If you’re constantly telling yourself that you can’t do something, or can’t stop a bad habit, then more than likely you will not. Once your mind is set on something, it will stay there unless you change your mindset.
Negative self-talk will affect every area of your life if you let it, even your health, so it’s important to catch yourself when you hear these negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts/affirmations to yourself. Sometimes it can be difficult to recognize what thoughts are negative because you are so used to thinking negatively. If you can catch yourself telling yourself “I can’t” then you know you need to step back and reevaluate the situation.
5. I’m Not Enough
Whether you call yourself names like “idiot,” or tell yourself negative things like, “I always mess this up,” negative self-talk will only make matters worse. It’s hard to get anything done when you’re constantly negative about yourself and thinking negatively about your abilities. You are enough and you need to have faith in your abilities.
Say positive things to yourself and remind yourself that negative self-talk is never productive. You can’t change your subconscious thoughts, but you can change how often you tell yourself negative things. If you’re not used to thinking positively all the time, it might take some practice, but don’t give up!
If you want to achieve the things you want in your life, negative self-talk is not an option. You can train yourself to stop negative self-talk by establishing a positive dialogue with yourself through meditation and prayer. Listen for your negative thoughts, and block or replace them with positive ones as often as you can catch them. If negative self-talk is holding you back from being your best, it’s time to make a change.
It is important to remember that negative self-talk only makes the journey harder than it has to be, but you can choose to be positive instead. You are enough and deserving of all that life has to offer, so don’t let negative self-talk stand in your way.
