How to Stop Negative Self-Talk: A 9-Step Guide

Negative self-talk refers to how we talk to ourselves, usually very negatively, which can be harmful because it can lead to low self-esteem and self-confidence.

Negative thoughts or beliefs about ourselves or our lives can affect our moods and behaviors.

For example, you might think, “I’m so foolish,” or “Why can’t I get anything right?” when you make a mistake at work.

You might also think, “I’ll never find anyone who will love me” if you break up with someone you have seen for a long time.

These are examples of negative self-talk, and they can adversely impact your life.

This article will look at ways to stop negative self-talk and other necessary information.

Why Is Negative Self-Talk Dangerous?

Negative self-talk is a silent killer. It can make you feel worthless, incompetent, and inadequate.

It can cripple your ability to achieve goals and make progress in life. In other words, negative self-talk is dangerous because it robs you of your power to succeed.

Constant professing of negative words can:

Cause you to feel bad about yourself, your abilities, and your appearance.
Makes you feel like you’re not good enough or don’t deserve something good.
Cause you to make poor decisions (like eating junk food when stressed).
Lead to depression and anxiety disorders by making you feel like there’s nothing for you in this world, so why bother?
Make it harder for you to enjoy the good things in your life because all you see are the negatives in everything around you.

How to Stop Negative Self-Talk

Negative self-talk is a habit that often goes unnoticed. The voice inside your head keeps saying everything you don’t like about yourself or why something is wrong or won’t work out.

It can be difficult to overcome negative self-talk, but it’s not impossible. The first step is to realize that you are doing it and learn how to stop.

Here are some ways to stop negative self-talk in its tracks:

1. Recognize Your Thoughts as Just Thoughts

Negative thoughts are often based on past experiences and feelings, but they don’t have to affect how you live in the present moment.

When you notice a negative thought, try telling yourself, “This is just a thought.” Then focus on something else until the thought passes by like a cloud floating overhead on a sunny day.

2. Find Some Humor in Your Situation

Whenever possible, look for humor in situations where negativity has taken over your life or when you’re feeling down about yourself or something else going on in your life.

This helps shift your perspective away from whatever it is that’s bothering you at the time, which can be very helpful.

3. Identify the Trigger

Negative self-talk rarely happens for no reason — there’s almost always something that triggers it.

So if you want to change your thoughts, first identify what caused them in the first place.

For example, if you’re feeling down because someone close to you has been unkind, asking yourself why could help uncover their behavior as the trigger for your negative thoughts.

4. Stop Comparing Yourself With Others

The more you compare yourself with others, the more unhappy you will be with yourself and your accomplishments.

If you find yourself comparing, try to remember that nobody has it all and everyone has flaws, so there is no point in comparing yourself to others. You are who you are, and that is perfect!

5. Take Care of Yourself

Taking care of yourself by sleeping enough, eating well, and exercising regularly helps keep negative thoughts at bay because your body feels better physically and emotionally.

This doesn’t mean that if you’re overweight or have a bad day, you’ll immediately start having negative thoughts about yourself.

However, it may increase the likelihood of having them if those things are already happening (and most people do experience these problems at some point).

6. Learn to Love Yourself Unconditionally

The first step in stopping negative self-talk is learning to love yourself unconditionally.

You should be able to look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I am not perfect but I am beautiful.”

This will help you gain confidence in yourself and stop being critical of yourself all the time.

7. Learn How to Forgive Yourself for Past Mistakes and Failures

Everyone makes mistakes, even when they’re trying their hardest.

If you find yourself beating yourself up over past failures, try to remind yourself that nobody’s perfect and everyone has their moments when they slip up.

8. Take Time Each Day to Meditate or Pray

Meditation has been shown in research studies to help reduce stress and anxiety, both of which can contribute to negative self-talk.

Prayer works the same way — it helps quiet the mind so that you can focus on your goals rather than all the reasons why you shouldn’t achieve them.

Final Thoughts

Self-talk is a part of our daily lives. It’s something we all do, especially when we are alone. Some people have positive self-talk, while others have negative self-talk.

If you are someone who has been talking negatively to yourself for a long time, then it’s time you stop doing that.