Hey Bestie! Are you ready to reverse negative self talk?
Negative self talk starts as a thought in your mind. Your inner dialogue doesn’t have an off switch so even when you are sleeping, your mind is still going.
Most of the time, you may feel in control but when the negativity begins you can feel like a prisoner in your own mind. Negative thoughts can result from seeds planted by others throughout your life.
Some of them can stem from bullying, emotional/verbal abuse, your own insecurities, failures, and any other environmental factors that may have contributed to your life.
The good news about negative self talk is that it can be recognized, reversed, and recalled. Bestie, you don’t have to live with this constant agony because you were never meant to.
This post is all about reversing negative self talk.
Are you ready? Let’s geaux!
The Spiritual Side Of Negative Self-Talk
Before I go any further, I want to mention the spiritual side of things.
In some instances, you may think that you are thinking negatively but there is also something called condemnation that will constantly remind you of all the wrong you have done even when things are going right.
Condemnation uses guilt and shame to pass judgment against you and sentence you to punishment.
This is a direct attack of the Satan and he will try to convince you that this negative self talk is all you, that no one cares, that there’s nothing you can do to stop it, and you have to deal with this all by yourself.
The devil is a lie because today we are recognizing, reversing, and recalling negative self talk. You are not what you do, have done, or will do. Your identity is in Christ Jesus.
You may be cuffed to condemnation however so check out this life changing sermon.
3 Examples Of Negative Self-Talk
Negative self talk can be obvious, but it can also be subtle. Here are some ways negative self talk manifests itself:
1. Personalizing
This is the belief that you are the blame for anything bad that happens. You pick yourself apart and beat yourself up even when it has little to do with you.
A common example of personalizing is feeling like it’s your fault that your parents got a divorce or feeling like you didn’t do enough in support of someone.
“If I would’ve tried harder, this wouldn’t have happened” is what personalizing sound like.
In life there will be ups and downs Bestie; you do not have to be in control so let go of the reins. What happened in that person’s life is not your fault.
You can quit blaming yourself saying you shoulda, coulda, and woulda. It’s not your fault.
To one of my Besties, you are not the blame for not answering the phone that night. Your family member loved you just as much as you loved them.
It’s time for you to release the guilt into God’s hand and let him help you grieve properly so that you can continue living your life.
The Lord is near to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed (Psalm 34:18).
2. Filtering
Filtering is when you focus on the negative and forget the positives in a situation. It’s when one small thing ruins your entire day.
For example, let’s say you’re a very responsible college student. You submit everything on time, you meet deadlines, and you’re never late on any assignments.
This semester you decide to increase your workload. Toward the end, you forget to do one assignment.
Instead of focusing on how you managed to give your all and trying to make up for the one assignment you missed; you immediately conclude that you are a failure and irresponsible.
You even call yourself stupid. All because you missed one assignment.
There is a high amount of perfectionism that accompanies filtering along with unrealistically high expectations.
You don’t have to carry this load anymore. You can rest. Take a step back and examine your situation the next time you feel this happening.
Ask yourself are there any positives to what has happened. Focus on the positives. Also take it easy by slowing down.
You are not perfect and you don’t have to strive for perfection. This world does not rest on your shoulders although sometimes it may feel like it does.
Then Jesus said “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
3. Catastrophizing
Catastrophizing is very similar to filtering. When to catastrophize; you jump to the worst case scenario.
For example, you have been spending time with Jesus daily. You miss one day and think that God is mad at you and you’re going to hell.
“I can’t do anything right”. “I’m never going to be anything” is what catastrophizing sounds like.
When you find yourself jumping to the worst case scenario, begin to question why.
Why does everything have to end horribly for you? Do you think that you deserve the worst? Are you holding onto any guilt, shame, or fear that hasn’t been released unto God?
How To Stop Negative Self-Talk
1. Recognize
Once something is brought to the light, it has to be dealt with. Although you have thousands of thoughts a day, there can be a reduction of negative thoughts.
Since you are struggling with negative self talk, try writing them down. Write down the most repetitive thoughts.
Once you write them down, I want you to challenge them. This guide will help you to challenge the negative thoughts.
2. Reverse
Just as you can shift a car into drive and reverse, you can to the same when dealing with negative self talk. It doesn’t have to stay this way, but its up to you to do the work to reverse it.
Whatever you put in your body must come out and this is not a principle that only applies to your physical.
When you challenge those thoughts, begin to reverse them by practicing positive self talk. You will want power so when doing this its best to use God’s words.
Also practice stepping outside of yourself to give yourself advice as you would a friend.
{RELATED POST: THE PREREQUISITE TO HAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS}
3. Recall
When an item is recalled, it is withdrawn from the market. When dealing with negative self talk, you must remember that you are not the negativity. You are a new person.
Therefore if any man is in Christ; he is a new creation. Old things have passed away behold all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
As you continue to recognize and reverse, you will find that your mind will be filled with more positive than negative. Negative self talk is recalled in Jesus name.
Bestie you are so loved. God loves you. It’s time for you to love you by reversing negative self talk.
This post was all about how to reverse negative self talk.
Remember you are destined to win because He got up!
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