“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:
- Negative Thought or Emotion: I’m scared
- Reframe: It’s okay to be scared. I’m also resilient.
- 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
- Meeting ID: 912 3479 2398
- Password: WRDSB
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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