1. Overcome negative self-talk with self-reflection:
Every so often we catch ourselves critiquing our faults, or inabilities when comparing ourselves with peers whom we hold in high esteem. Should this habit persist, it may get ingrained into our everyday mindset and, without intervention, might grind down our confidence with every self-loathing remark we make about ourselves.
To overcome negative self-talk, we have to develop an awareness of our everyday behaviours. For this, we present a short reflective exercise you can do to understand yourself:
- Do you acknowledge your abilities?
- How do you approach failure?
- Do you give yourself a pat on the back when you achieve something, be it great or small?
Once you have answered these questions, take a look at your responses. Are you your cheerleader? Are you at least kind to yourself? Or, do you beat yourself up for your weaknesses?
Self-reflection is a good practice to examine your thought processes, and with awareness you can nip self-sabotaging behaviours and habits at the bud, before they really take root.
2. Practice mindfulness:
With self-reflection comes mindfulness: you become aware of what you think, feel and want. You are mindful of who you are and act on that knowledge, not what others ask of you. Only you can answer for what you want, yourself.
With mindfulness, you can start to become aware of your principles and values in life, which are intrinsic drivers in decision-making, and in choosing the path in life you will take.
3. Set healthy boundaries:
Once you are grounded with an understanding of yourself, it is then you can establish healthy boundaries. Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I have the capacity to do everything?
- How much of myself do I give to others?
Remember, you are only human. Sure, we would like to be superhuman, but that can only be arranged once we have had our needs met. That means, knowing when to say no when our hands our full.
4. Create self-care rituals:
With each accomplishment, remember to acknowledge the efforts you have put in. Rewarding yourself is positive reinforcement which will prime you to become your best self.
There are many different ways to engage in self-care rituals, and they can run the gamut from treating yourself to a spa day, to taking time off for a movie marathon by yourself or even with your loved ones.
Think of the hobbies you are passionate about.
What do you enjoy doing?
Whatever it is, remember what it comes down to: You have done a lot. Treat yourself.
5. Be compassionate towards yourself:
Waving away compliments can be a humble gesture, but done too often, it can become a self-sabotaging act as it can diminish your self-worth.
So let's do something good for ourselves today. Maybe we'll treat ourselves to a new book, go for a walk in the park, or write about five things we're grateful for. Whatever we do, make sure we show ourselves love.
