151. Overcoming Negative Self-Talk

Your words are powerful. Proverbs 18:20 tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whatever you speak you will eventually see in your life. But just like the words that you speak are powerful…the words that you tell yourself internally are just as powerful.

When you’re asked to do something big and new, do you instantly jump in and think to yourself, “oh yeah! I’ve got this!” or do you ever say to yourself, “who am I to do that?” 

Or have you ever told yourself, “Nobody likes me. Why do I have to be like this?” Or maybe you have told yourself, “I’ not smart. Why should I even try to study for that test. I’m just going to fail anyway.” Or maybe when you look in the mirror and you tell yourself how ugly you think you are and then begin to criticize everything about yourself. 

Many times, when we’re talking to ourselves negatively, we are taking something that is not true and believing it as if it was true. The worst part is, when we talk negatively to ourselves, it leads us to feel worse about ourselves. The worse we feel about ourselves, the more negatively we talk to ourselves. It’s a vicious cycle. 

If you find that you have a hard time being happy, or that you are constantly fighting feeling down, depressed, angry, anxious or any other negative feeling, stop and think about what you’ve been telling yourself. What have you been thinking about and dwelling on? Almost every time, if not every time, it’s something that’s negative that we are choosing to believe. 

If you find yourself in that situation…feeling down…telling yourself negative things about yourself, I want to encourage you to ask yourself these questions. Write them down and put them on the wall in your room or in your bathroom. Put them on your phone so you can easily look at them…wherever you find yourself dwelling on those negative thoughts the most. 

The first question I encourage you to ask yourself is:

1. Is what I’m telling myself true? Is it what God would say about me?
2. What Truth from God’s Word confirms that what I’m saying is true?
3. What’s the worst thing that could happen?
4. What will most likely happen?
5. Are there other ways that I can look at this situation?
6. Is this really a bad as I’m making it out to be?
7. Is speaking to myself this way making me feel better or worse?
8. How can I change my thinking in order to find the good news?

Then when you’ve assessed the situation, find what God’ Word says about the situation and begin to speak that over our life. John 8:31-32 tell us and this is Jesus speaking, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” If you have been struggling with negative self-talk, the only way to overcome it is with the Word of God. 

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