How Do You Talk To You?

“Idiot! Why do you always do that?” Does your internal dialogue ever sound like this? Think about it. How do you talk to you? Do you find yourself constantly putting yourself down? If yes, would you accept this kind of talk from others? What if another person spoke to you in this manner? How would you respond? Coming from others or coming from yourself the same is true. Toxic and unwarranted negative feedback is never appropriate and simply unproductive.

We all make mistakes and fail at times. What is important is to remember that each of us, including ourselves, are trying to be the best version of ourselves every day. It is not helpful and in fact unhealthy to recieve constant negative input. Our inner dialogue, what we say to ourselves, and how we frame this feedback to ourselves are all critical elements to building self-esteem and improving everyday.

So this week, pay attention to how you speak to yourself. Take note of the connotation. If it is overly negative, make an effort to reframe your thoughts. For example, instead of: “Idiot! Why do you always do that?” Try something such as: “That was disappointing and I’m frustrated. What made this go wrong? How can I avoid this next time?”

Be honest with yourself. Give yourself grace. Acknowledge the losses and the wins. And, doing so from a perspective of gratitude can help frame these thoughts in a positive and productive manner.