The benefits of positive self talk – part two

The benefits of positive self talk part two 

Last week I spoke about why self talk is important and what benefits can come form practising positive self talk. Today as part two of the benefits of positive self talk, I will discuss and highlight positive thinking and how we can make changes to help your overall mental health and wellbeing.

Focusing on positive thinking and changes our brains and thought patterns 

You can learn to turn negative thinking into positive thinking. The process is simple, but it does take time and practice. Here are some tips to help you become aware of your negative thought patters and self talk and to, challenge and change them;

Identify areas to change. You can’t change yourself or a habit if you are not aware of it in the first place. Start small but focusing on one area to approach in a more positive way, then add more areas in as you get better at it.

Check yourself. Periodically during the day, stop and evaluate what you’re thinking. If you find that your thoughts are mainly negative, find a way to put a positive spin on them. If you are finding this really hard then use a journal to note down some of your negative thoughts, and get someone you love and trust to go through the list with you. Together challenge the negative thoughts and create a new dialogue to talk back to your self in a loving and positive way.

Practice positive self-talk. Start by following one simple rule: Don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to anyone else. Be gentle and encouraging with yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about you. Think about things you’re thankful for in your life. I usually tell my clients who are teenagers often struggling with low self esteem and negative self talk, fake it until you make it.

Be open to humour. Give yourself permission to smile or laugh, especially during difficult times. Seek humour in everyday happenings. When you can smile and laugh your whole physiological body changes and releases feel good hormones which can have an uplifting effect.

Surround yourself with positive people. Make sure those in your life are positive, supportive people you can depend on to give helpful advice and feedback. You want supportive people in your life who can help life you up, but also those who you can have positive self talk and not feel judged as being arrogant in front of. Healthy self esteem is fantastic for you and those around you.

 

 

Putting positive thinking into practice
Negative self-talk	Positive thinking
I’ve never done it before.	It’s an opportunity to learn something new.
It’s too complicated.	I’ll tackle it from a different angle.
I don’t have the resources.	Necessity is the mother of invention.
I’m too lazy to get this done.	I wasn’t able to fit it into my schedule, but I can re-examine some priorities.
There’s no way it will work.	I can try to make it work.
It’s too radical a change.	Let’s take a chance.
No one bothers to communicate with me.	I’ll see if I can open the channels of communication.
I’m not going to get any better at this.	I’ll give it another try.

 

Practicing positive thinking every day

If you tend to have a negative outlook, don’t expect to become an optimist overnight. But with practice, eventually your self-talk will contain less self-criticism and more self-acceptance. You may also become less critical of the world around you.

When your state of mind is generally optimistic, you’re better able to handle everyday stress in a more constructive way.

Have a look at our Holistic Health page for everyday health and wellbeing tips that can positively affect your wellbeing.

Do you or a loved one need support?

Empowered Existence are running numerous Mental Health First Aid courses throughout 2021 – please have a look at our events calendar and book into a training to learn how to support someone with developing mental heath issues.

You can also reach out and speak to Fran Power about what support might be the right option and how to access it. Simply call me on 0401851654 or email me at info@empoweredexistence.com.au

Additional supports 

Kids Helpline:
24/7 crisis support service for young people
1800 55 1800 or online text chat at www.kidshelp.com.au

headspace:
24/7 support service for young people
1800 650 890 or online text chat at www.headspace.org.au

Reach Out:
online youth mental health service www.reachout.com