Learn the role of self-compassion and other tips to limit your negative inner voice

The antidote to negative self-talk is as simple as treating yourself like a good friend. In the long run, you can avoid all its harmful effects if you cultivate self-compassion. If you find it challenging to love yourself, perhaps you can start by looking at your environment. It is easier to love yourself when you are around people who love and constantly show you why you are lovable. On the other hand, being around toxic people can damage your sense of self-worth. The sooner you move away from those relationships, the sooner you will be free from negative self-talk. But you may find that you can't walk away from some relationships, even if they are toxic. In that case, one thing you can try to combat the negativity is by using positive affirmations. Say and repeat good things about yourself. It will shift your mindset in the opposite direction negative self-talk usually takes you. Developing self-compassion can be a long and tricky process. But there are also ways to limit negative self-talk immediately. One thing you can do is to give your inner critic a name, such as "Sour Sandy." When you think negatively, you can say: "Sour Sandy is doing it again." This practice will give you a sense of distance and let you know that your inner voice is not always correct. You can also disengage from your inner critic and choose to ignore it. For example, you can redirect your focus to the present moment, perhaps grounding yourself by opening up your senses - sight, hearing, touch, and so on. There is always a way to get better and break free from negative self-talk. In the long run, cultivating self-compassion is the key. But you can certainly take steps to limit negative self-talk right now.