Creating Positive Self-Talk

Positive self-talk allows you to recognize, validate, and apply your full potential to all that you are, and do. Also called affirmations (to make something firm), positive self-talk serves as your personal accomplishment scale.

Below are some tips for positive self-talk:

1. Use the present tense; deal with what exists today.

2. Be positive – rather than affirming what you don’t want.

3. Remain personal; self-talk must relate to you and you only.

4. Keep sentences short and simple.

5. Go with your gut. If it “clicks”, then just say it. Self-talk should feel positive, expanding, freeing, and supporting.

6. Focus on new things, rather than changing what is.

7. Act “as if”; permit yourself to believe the idea is true right now.

If self-talk is new to you, it is a good idea to first think about the things that are wonderful about you, such as:

• I have someone I love, and we enjoy spending time together

• I am a mother or father, fulfilled in this role

• My career is challenging and fulfilling.

• When I learn something new, I feel proud.

• I am worthwhile because I breathe and feel; I am aware.

• When I feel pain, I love, I try to survive. I am a good person.

Identifying and Addressing Strengths and Weaknesses Exercise

1. Create a list of words and phrases of self-attributes (describing yourself).

2. Then decide whether they are strengths or weaknesses/positives or negatives.

3. Re-frame weaknesses/negatives into a message that does not create a negative self-worth and low self-esteem.