Positive Self-Talk: What is It and Why is It Important?
Like anything in life, your outlook can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you focus on the negative, life can, in many ways, become harder. Consider a National Institute of Health-cited study about mental health outcomes. In it, they note the correlation between a pattern of negative thinking and depression in young people.
But when you focus on the positive, have you ever noticed the world seems a little less frictionless? That things always seem to be looking up?
It really does seem like positive or negative thinking leads to positive or negative outcomes, respectively. And this is just as true with your perception of the world around you as it is about yourself.
So it goes without question that one can benefit from reframing their sense of self to focus on the positive. But how, you may be wondering? The answer lies in adopting the habitual practice of positive self talk.
In this article, learn more about positive self talk. This includes methodology, positive self talk quotes, and the outcomes you could expect. Be kinder to yourself and things will start to fit into place.
What is Positive Self Talk?
Positive self talk is the act of ensuring that your self-directed feelings trend away from negative assessments. It is a mindful practice that, for many, requires a decent amount of trial and error.
It is also one that takes many forms. This includes everything from a healthy inner dialogue to setting physical reminders of positivity. Truly, positive self talk can be different for every single person.
Why is Positive Self Talk Important
There is a concept in psychology called perception bias. In essence, this is a belief that when we have formed an opinion on something, we seek evidence to support our beliefs.
With a positive or negative self-outlook, you can imagine how perception bias plays in. If you are feeling down about, say, your fashion sense, your clothes become ammunition. A negative perception bias may use your closet as evidence of your poor taste in clothes.
But when you turn negative self talk into positive self-talk, you can avoid this trap. All by focusing on the positive aspects of the self that carry perceivable evidence.
Take that same example about a closet full of clothes. With positivity built into the assessment, one surveying their clothing collection might find pieces that spark immense joy. Or they might come across accessories that trigger happy memories of the time and place they came from.
Countless studies have shown beneficial effects from positive self talk on study participants. Consider this NIH-cited study. In it, participants actually altered their brain connectivity while practicing positive or negative self talk.
It would seem that positive self talk is about more than a fleeting moment of happiness. It can actually rewire your brain to achieve better outcomes in your daily life!
Positive Self Talk Examples
So, now that you know how positive self talk can benefit you, how can it be put into practice? What are some positive self talk examples to guide you toward more mindful thinking? Here are just a few:
Let’s say you have just accidentally knocked your favorite coffee mug off of the counter. Let’s also say it was an heirloom. It is broken and irreparable.
Engaging in negative self talk might be represented as thinking, “That was really dumb of me to do that.” Positive self talk, on the other hand, might be represented as thinking, “I can forgive myself for my mistakes.” Where the negative thought is about the action, the positive thought is about how you move on from it.
Or, consider a case in which you are about to go into a job interview. Negative self talk might be, “I hope I don’t mess this up.” The implication here is that you will, and you’re hoping against the likelier outcome. But positive self talk might be telling yourself, “I deserve this job and this team will be lucky to have me!”
Another example might be if you are attempting something immensely difficult. Think training for a marathon or writing a book. A negative self thought might be, “This is too hard; I’ll never do this.” A positive self thought would focus on progress, such as, “I am getting better every day.”
With positive self thinking, you train your brain to focus on possibility rather than futility. You ensure that you are creating a framework for thinking that doesn’t shut the door on you from the get-go.
How to Practice Positive Self Talk
There are many ways to practice positive self talk for a more positive outlook on life. This mindful practice could take the form of:
Posting positive self talk quotes on sticky notes around your home or office
Speaking positive self talk affirmations into the mirror each morning
Stopping for a positive mindful meditation during a time of stress or negativity
Setting a gameplay to achieve my goals for the day
And much more.
The key with each of these is to work the practice into your daily routine. Be mindful about it. Take a moment to slow down when you feel negative thought patterns creeping back in. Even with just a few minutes a day, you can truly rewire your brain to focus on the upswing.
Learn From a Motivational Speaker
Motivational speakers are, by trade, adept at helping their clients harness positive practices. And one such motivational speaker is Jon Dorenbos. His talks have helped clients learn the power of positive self talk, mindful internal dialogues and outcome-driven thinking. Learn more about Jon Dorenbos.