“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”
– Brené Brown

Taming Your Inner Critic

Did you know that our brains are wired to pay attention to negative thoughts and discount positive thoughts? Seems strange, right?

The reason we have this tendency towards negativity is because in prehistoric times, we needed our brains to be highly attuned to any danger or threat and couldn’t afford to be distracted from that threat with positive thoughts.

Although we are no longer at risk of being attacked by a sabre-toothed tiger, our brains are still wired this way. This is known as the negativity bias. On average, humans have approximately 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts a day and 80% of these thoughts are negative. That’s a lot of negative self-talk.

The good news is, once you understand the negativity bias, and start paying attention to the thoughts, you can change them into more positive thoughts. Want to learn how to do this? Check out the helpful resources below.

Helpful Resources

The Negativity Bias and How To Beat It

Changing Your Critical Self-Talk

by Courtney E. Ackerman on PositivePsychology.com

Challenge Unhelpful Thinking


Self-Care Tip of the Month

This is an idea from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation to “explore the good” that anyone can try.

It is a challenge to take some of our negative emotions or thoughts and reframe them into something else, that might just help us feel better and even do better.

Here is one idea of how the writer of this blog tried this challenge:

  1. Negative Thought or Emotion: I’m scared
  2. Reframe: It’s okay to be scared. I’m also resilient.
  3. Action: Allow yourself to feel the feelings. They are real and they should not be pushed aside. Find someone to talk to who can help – a friend, a family member or mental health professional.

It might take some practice to be able to get to a place where you can begin the reframing. but, once you start, you might just feel better.


Community Events

Parenting Now/KW Counselling

Ok2bme/KW Counselling

Woolwich Counselling

Langs Youth Wellness Hub

Lunch & Learns for Caregivers with WRDSB Psychology Department

Wednesdays from 12:15 to 12:45 pm

April 21: Co-Regulation & Anxiety Tool Box

April 28: Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Wellbeing


Video of the Month

Ish by Peter H. Reynolds


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For more information about this newsletter contact Mary Murphy at 519-570-0003, ext. 4172.