All of us have messages that repeatedly play in our minds.  This inner discussion structures the way we react to situations that may occur in our everyday lives.  In order to live  healthy and happy we must purposely pack the thoughts in our minds with positive self-talk.  Most of the time, our self-talk is negative because we remember the bad things we were told as a youth as well as negative reactions from other children.  These awful past experiences tend to slowly lower our self-esteem because these messages have continuously played over and over in our minds.

To recognize the foundation of the damaging messages and then work with the individual to deliberately “overwrite” them is one of the most important things we use in therapy with people who suffer from depression.  For example, we would show someone how valuable they actually are if that person was taught as a child they were worthless. 

References

Jantz, G. L. (2016, May 16). The Power of Positive Self-Talk. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hope-relationships/201605/the-power-positive-self-talk

Positive Self-Talk

By: Brittany Jones

Yesterday I sat by a pond

Pondering upon my self’s reflection.

It appeared that I was faced

With someone else’s face

Because the discouraged countenance staring back at me

Had the darkness of unworthiness written all over it.

There was absolutely no need to read between the lines to see that

That darkness was as dark as the darkest night.

I then told my liquid mirror,

“That image is not either you nor I.”

You have to see that our eyes

Are as bright as the highest IQ.

I am here and am definitely not def or dumb.

My pond will reflect enlightening expressions

That I will use as bate to debate

With thoughts of failure as I fish for internal truth.

I know that from within my heart’s treasure chest

Which resides within my chest,

That I will never again be a pawn

To that dark knight of unworthiness.

By: Brittany Jones