“I blew it.” “I’m a failure.” “I’ll never amount to much.
Sound familiar? Voices like these are how many people talk to themselves. It is important to note that everyone has self-talk. But sadly, most people talk to themselves negatively.
Every person talks to themselves throughout the day by planning, acting, evaluating, and judging their behavior. Because this is so much a part of a person’s life, it becomes essential that everyone monitors their self-talk just as they would their bank account.
Psychologists say that it takes seven positive comments for someone to erase one negative word. It’s also valid for how a person speaks to themselves—one negative thought such as “I’m unworthy of love,” and there will need to have seven positive self-talk statements to erase it!
Negative self-talk is a waste of time and energy, and even worse, it’s just plain wrong. But God can transform how a person thinks. Romans 12:2 (NLT) says, “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Here are some examples of self-talk that are both true and positive:
- “I’m a work in progress. I’m not perfect, but that is ok.”
- “I may not have been on track today with my goals, but I’ll get back on track tomorrow.”
- “I have mastered other difficult challenges in my life, and I can master this.”
The best way an individual can take care of their mental health is to be gentle with themselves. It leaves no room for paralyzing guilt, self-flagellation, self-hate, or other forms of negativity. At the same time, it doesn’t mean that someone becomes passive, feels sorry for themselves, and shuns self-discipline. Indeed, a person must persist in their recovery to make themselves the person God wants them to be. Seeing a licensed counselor through the New Life Counseling Network will help.
Positive self-talk can—and should—be a part of everyone’s daily life. Exchanging negative for positive self-talk is one of the most effective ways a person can honor themselves and God who made them in His image.
by Susan Eppley