Overcoming negative self-talk: The path to maintaining progress

We have discussed the many ways we can overcome negative self-talk. We can talk to ourselves as if to a friend. We can practice meditation to be more aware of our thoughts. We can also do positive affirmations regularly to rewire our minds. Cultivating a positive inner mind can be a long and challenging process. It will require a lot of effort and time. What matters is that you stick with it and know the potential pitfalls that can get in the way. One common obstacle is the tendency for old thought patterns to resurface in the presence of triggers. Stressful events can bring about the worst in you. You may fall back to old behaviors when faced with a challenge you don't know how to overcome. You may find some self-reflection helpful in dealing with this. Ask yourself what brings out the worst in you. When the situation arises, you will be more ready to handle it. Or perhaps you can avoid the stressful trigger altogether. Another common obstacle you might already know is if you have a toxic community around you. Negative self-talk can feel very justified when other people constantly criticize you. Managing the inner critic becomes an uphill climb. Finding a positive community to support you is very crucial. When you surround yourself with people who say good things about you, it becomes easier to see that your negative self-talk can be wrong. You become more aware of your self-criticisms. And positivity becomes more automatic. As you learn to recognize these obstacles, you will be more prepared to deal with them. If it feels too difficult, you can seek professional help if necessary. Developing a positive inner mind can be challenging, but it is worth it. Just remember to be patient and compassionate with yourself.