Whether it be what you think about your next-door neighbor or your thoughts on pop culture, everyone has their own set of opinions that guide them through life. How we think and feel determines our behavior and thus, controls our life. While you may very well know your personal opinions and how you feel about the people in your life, when is the last time you thought about what you think of yourself? We all have thoughts in our heads that control our lives. This personal dialogue and self-talk, more often than not, is negative by nature. Even for the most positive people, negative self-talk is hard to control. Many people don’t realize the power of positive self-talk. Transforming negative self-talk into positive self-talk by frequently complimenting yourself and practicing positive affirmations can change your life. As Dr. Magdalena Battles, a Doctor of Psychology says, “You live the words you tell yourself in your mind.”
So, how does one start practicing positive self-talk and what kind of effect can it have?
What is Positive Self-Talk and How Do I Start Practicing Positive Self-Talk?
Positive self-talk makes you feel good about yourself and the things that are going on in your life. It is the optimistic voice and positive thoughts inside your head telling you all of the nice, good things. Simply saying you are going to start practicing positive self-talk is easier said than done. Sure, you can make a conscious decision to start being nicer to yourself. You can even give yourself compliments throughout the day, but do you really mean it? In order to provide yourself with good, positive self-talk, there are changes you need to make. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Believe in Your Ability to Succeed
Positive thinking and success are directly correlated. When you believe in the skills you have and your ability to succeed, you can propel yourself toward success and thus, be happier. When you stop doubting yourself, you will talk to yourself in a more positive manner and practice more positive self-talk. When you think more positively about yourself, you will become successful.
Here are some tips if you want to start believing in your success:
- Dream and Set Goals – Dreaming and setting goals for yourself is a great way to begin positive self-talk because you can envision your greatest desires in life. What do you want out of life? Where do you see yourself over the next 10 years? What would make you the happiest? Allowing yourself to dream big and setting smaller goals will make you happier overall, resulting in positive self-talk.
- Visualize Your Success – Visualizing your success helps you to actually achieve success. If you want to take a 5-mile bike ride one Saturday, for example, you make a plan. You visualize the beginning, middle, and end. Doing the same thing with your long-term goals will allow you to actually envision yourself achieving them. When you believe you can achieve your goals you will engage in more positive self-talk.
Cut Negative People Out of Your Life
Anyone can have a bad day, but if you are surrounding yourself with people who are constantly negative, you are going to be the same way. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. If you are spending your time with people who practice negative self-talk, chances are, you will have negative thoughts as well.
Replace Negative Thoughts With Positive Affirmations
The power of positive self-talk can start with something as simple as replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. All negative thoughts can be replaced with a positive affirmation. Start recognizing positive and negative thoughts and replace the negative thoughts and messages in your mind with positive affirmations. Take the below as examples.
| Negative Thought | Positive Affirmation |
|---|---|
| I never win. | I accept that I tried hard. I have improved. |
| I can’t do this. | I can do this because I’ve done things like this before. |
| I always make mistakes. | There are many things that I do well. |
| I am fat and ugly. | I am beautiful. I love and accept myself. |
| I’m never going to finish this. | I’ve finished tasks like this before. |
| I don’t understand this, I’ve never done this before. | This is an opportunity for me to learn something new. |
Find Ways to Feel Grateful
It’s important to remind yourself what you are grateful for. To do this, you can do something simple like post sticky notes to your mirror. Or, you can keep a journal if that’s more your style. You can write down positive affirmations like “I am unique and beautiful. There is no one else like me in the world.” Or, you can write down what you are grateful for in your life.
Don’t Compare Yourself
Comparing yourself to others, whether you’re comparing yourself to their appearance or what they have that you don’t, is an easy way to get down on yourself quickly. You shouldn’t compare yourself to anyone because it is likely that you don’t know the whole story. While it may seem like it at times, nobody’s life is perfect. Be grateful for what you have, live your own life, and stop comparing yours to other people’s.
Be Kind to Others
If you use negative words with others, you are more likely to be negative about yourself as well. Start speaking positive affirmations into the lives of others and especially the people who you love. Doing so will improve your overall attitude and help you to be kinder to yourself.
Don’t Fear Failure
Some of the most successful people are those who have failed multiple times before becoming successful. If they had given up the first time they failed, they wouldn’t be where they are today. You must be fearless when it comes to failure if you want to succeed and be more positive. In life, don’t let fear hold you back from anything.
Don’t Dwell on the Past
Dwelling on the past will only promote more negative self-talk. Mistakes you’ve made or things you wish would’ve panned out differently are things you need to let go of. Believe that there is a reason things happen the way they do and that what’s ahead is far more important than what is already behind you.
Be Physically Active
Becoming more physically active has many benefits: increased creativity, reduced anxiety, improved self-confidence, and an increase in endorphins (happy brain chemicals). All of this will help with your ability to practice positive self-talk.
The Impact and Power of Positive Self-Talk
Positive self-talk can enhance your performance at work and in daily activities. Looking on the bright side and practicing positive self-talk can also improve your overall mental health. Additional benefits can include improved immune function, reduced pain, less stress, and greater life satisfaction. People who are more positive also have mental skills that allow them to solve problems and be more efficient at coping with hardships or challenges.
We Want You to Feel Beautiful—Inside and Out
At Brillare Beauty Institute, we know the power of positive self-talk, and we want our students and clients to feel beautiful inside and out. That’s why we offer a state-of-the-art spa experience and a positive environment where students are encouraged to be creative and clients are treated like family. If you have ever been interested in a career in the beauty industry, apply to our cosmetology program today. Or, if you’d like to book an appointment with one of our professionals in training, book an appointment. We’re always excited to help you look and feel beautiful!
