Social scientists say that the average person says fifty thousand words a day to themselves that no one hears. They call it "self-talk." Sadly, 80% of our self-talk is negative, destructive, and hurtful.
How do you stop the river of negative self-talk that flows in our brains?
I like the story of the woman with a baby who was walking around the grocery store saying things like, "Be calm, Elizabeth. You are a sweet girl, Elizabeth. I love you, Elizabeth."
A woman who overheard her said, "I heard the things you were saying to your child. You are a very good mother."
"No," replied the woman, "I'm Elizabeth."
When you hear yourself criticizing yourself, talk back to the negative internal voice.
Have you heard the story of the Indian who told his son how two wolves live inside every man and are constantly fighting? One wolf is a negative, fearful, condescending and mean wolf and the other is encouraging, kind, positive, loving. The son asks which wolf wins. And the father says, "the one you feed.."
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