Humans are busy, and our minds are constantly playing tag with knowledge and new inputs. We are bombarded with information overload every day, but sometimes we tune out the noise, and our minds go for a wander elsewhere. Those niggling negative thoughts can worm themselves into your day when you least expect it.
You can have an awesome day, and suddenly your brain goes into negative self-talk:
“You’re not good enough.”
“Everyone’s better than you.”
“It wasn’t meant to be.”
These kinds of thoughts happen to us all the time, and they can shatter our self-esteem and confidence.
In this article, I’m going to take you through some actions to challenge the negative thoughts that will have you back to confidence and self-belief in no time.
- Reality check. Literally. I want you to challenge yourself. Those words that you heard in your head are only in your head. Not everyone else’s heads. Look around you and listen to what people are saying to you. What is the evidence of your negative thoughts? Is this fact or fiction?
- Point of view. Think about your own perspective, your outlook on life. As humans, we have a tendency to elaborate on situations and make them bigger than they are. Think about your point of view: How will this negative thought affect you tomorrow? Next week? Next month? In a year from now? Is it really that bad? Is it likely to actually come true?
- Support network. We are social creatures, and we need people in our lives. Sometimes when we have a problem, it can be helpful to get a second opinion from a trusted friend. “A problem shared is halved,” isn’t that how the saying goes?
- Language. Think about how you are talking to yourself. Instead of putting yourself down by saying “I suck at algebra,” try telling yourself, “I’ve not mastered algebra yet, but I’m going to keep trying.”
- Your happy place. Think about your strengths and hobbies. The things that make you happy. When you are feeling down, use those activities to build yourself up again. Listen to your favorite music. Go for a forest trail run, or a swim in the ocean. Your energy and smile will soon be playing on your lips again.
As a trauma survivor, negative thoughts are constantly with me. What I’ve learned is that I don’t have to listen to them. They are the product of the voices from my past, and when they threaten my reality, I fight tooth and nail to claim back my self-esteem.
My name is Lizzy. I’m a trauma survivor, a wife, a mom, a teacher, and an author.
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For more about me: https://www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com
Elizabeth Woods grew up in a world of brutal sex offenders, murderers, and inconceivably neglectful adults. Elizabeth is passionate about spreading awareness of what it is like to survive after trauma. She is the author of several books and has written her memoir, telling her childhood story: The Sex-Offender’s Daughter: A True Story of Survival Against All Odds, available on Amazon Kindle and paperback.
Elizabeth is also the author of “Living with Complex PTSD” and the Cedar’s Port Fiction series: “Saving Joshua”, “Protecting Sarah”, “Guarding Noah” and “Bringing Back Faith,” and “Restoring Hope,” available here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCBZQN7L/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=7e223b5b-1a29-45f0-ad9d-e9c8fdb59e9c&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=931f96e2-c220-4765-acc8-cc99bb95e8bd