Negative Self-Talk: What it is and why it is Holding You Back
Negative self-talk is an internal mechanism that creates, repeats and reinforces negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself. When left unaddressed, negative self-talk can lead to significant impairment in areas such as confidence, perceived abilities, self-worth, expectations for yourself, and relationships with yourself and others.
While reflecting on our past behaviors and emotions is a healthy practice, preoccupation with the negative can turn a beneficial skill into a harmful habit. Negative self-talk may sound like this:
“I can never do anything right. Why even try?”
“I am stupid; I will never understand this.”
“I will go nowhere in life.”
“I am ugly; I don’t deserve to feel good about myself.”
“No one will love me.”
“I suck and will never get the promotion.”
“My ideas aren’t important enough to share with others.”
“I can’t write well enough; there is no point in sending this email.”
“I hate myself.”
Suppose you are experiencing frequent and pervasive thoughts about yourself, like the ones above. In that case, therapy can be an excellent tool to change your thinking, improve your confidence, and improve your relationship with yourself.
At Intuitive Counseling, I work with many clients who have experienced these negative beliefs. These clients benefit from cognitive reframing, identifying evidence that proves the thoughts wrong, and neutralizing statements. Call us at 720-689-6166, or click the Contact Us button to learn more.
