How to Stop Negative Self-Talk from Stopping You

You’re really on a fast track to making some serious progress in something which matters deeply to you.

You’re on your way with a clear road ahead. Then suddenly, there it is. An inner voice telling you all the ways you are going to fail.

The brakes slam on. Wherever you were on this road to realizing your goals, you’re parked now. And going nowhere. All because of some negative self-talk.

You can’t let it end that way. It’s time to re-write the script and re-set your "internal GPS." And get moving again. It’s the negative self-talk that needs to stop -- not you.

How? Try these methods for some quick and easy success:

Do a Reality Check
When you hear the negative thoughts, ask yourself: Is this really the truth of the matter? For example, are you ‘always’ late or just ‘sometimes’? Negative self-talk tends to exaggerate.

Soften the Impact
If you can’t come up with a positive version, reword the negative into something a little more acceptable. For example, thinking, “I cannot possibly finish on time” might become, “I will finish this project, and even if it’s late, it will be okay because I talked to my boss about it.”

Talk Like a Friend
When you hear your negative self-talk, ask yourself: Would I talk to someone else in the same way? If not, what you would say instead to your friend about the same topic? Practice talking to yourself the way you would to them.

Look Ahead
As yourself, Will this thought really matter tomorrow? Or next week? Or next year? A lot of negative self-talk is focused on “what ifs” that never happen. We tend to forget how little these words will matter later on. Discard thoughts that have no real power over the present moment or your future.

Interrupt Yourself
Interrupting your negative self-talk will change the script and force another ending to the story. Tell yourself to stop when you hear negative thoughts. You could even create a card with a STOP sign on it. Pull out the card, and if your surrounding permits, say “Stop” aloud when you hear the negative self-talk begin.

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These simple methods will help you stop negative self-talk and get you back on the road to completing the journey you started. So get moving, and don’t look back.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay