Every once in a while, we will encounter a “Negative Nellie” – someone who seems to relish criticizing, finding fault – someone who just is never satisfied unless they have managed to pass along their sour attitude. Or maybe we’re dealing with a difficult life situation – a divorce or break-up, the loss of a job. Maybe you are mistaken for your younger sister’s mom. That actually happened to me when I was in my early 30’s! My grandmother’s hair turned white when she was still in her teens – and I definitely inherited that tendency. I decided in that very moment that it was time to cover those grey and white hairs….
Whatever the circumstances, most of us are guilty of negative self-talk at some point. I’m not skilled/experienced enough to open my own business. I’m not attractive enough. I need to lose weight. Everyone else seems so much happier/more successful/more organised/more talented than me. And social media feeds those negative thoughts if we allow it. Let’s face it, most social media posts are portraying the shiniest, glossiest, perfect images of everyone’s life.
When this negative self-talk creeps into your life, of course it’s OK to vent to family and friends. But it’s equally, if not more, important to treat yourself kindly and reinforce the good and positive thoughts.
When this negative self-talk creeps into your life, of course it’s OK to vent to family and friends. But it’s equally, if not more, important to treat yourself kindly and reinforce the good and positive thoughts.
It’s important to remember that, if someone is frequently disrespectful of your feelings, it’s OK to close the door on that relationship – even if it is a family member. I’m certainly not saying that a single disagreement or spat should result in you cutting that person out of your life. But if they are constantly draining you of any positivity with their criticisms, rude behaviour or carelessness with your feelings, it may be time to move on.
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed with negative self-talk, remember these lovely words from A.A. Milne:
And, let's not forget - maybe someone in your circle needs to hear a little something positive about themselves! We should all be generous with our kind words and compliments. You never know the impact it might have on someone's day.
RSS Feed