Overcoming Negative Self-talk
Article by Lauri McNair, MS
There are times in which we find ourselves being pessimistic and negative in our thinking. At one time or another, most of us have said something negative about ourselves. Statements like, "I'm a loser"or "My life is a joke"or "How could I be so stupid?" or "I never do anything right" can easily dominate our thinking. Where do these statements come from? How do they originate? They begin with a thought. The Word of God tells us, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)
These thoughts are products of core beliefs; those verbal and non-verbal messages that we receive in our early childhood years which ultimately shape how we view ourselves in relation to our world. What we think of ourselves based upon the messages we have received as children, becomes our personal belief system in life.
If you are struggling with negativity, negative self-talk, pessimism, a defeatist attitude, or insecurity, ask God to show you the origin. What negative message(s) did you receive early on in life that has falsely shaped how you see yourself? Ask God to uproot the source of that false perception and replace it with the truth of His Word.
We can overcome negative self-talk through the power of the Word of God. For example, a negative thought like, "I can't do it", can immediately be stopped, refuted, and replaced with a statement like, "I can do it. The Word of God says, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'--(Philippians 4:13)."
When the negative thought intrudes, stop it! Refute it by speaking the Word of God!
(See the Biblical Decrees page.)
There are times in which we find ourselves being pessimistic and negative in our thinking. At one time or another, most of us have said something negative about ourselves. Statements like, "I'm a loser"or "My life is a joke"or "How could I be so stupid?" or "I never do anything right" can easily dominate our thinking. Where do these statements come from? How do they originate? They begin with a thought. The Word of God tells us, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)
These thoughts are products of core beliefs; those verbal and non-verbal messages that we receive in our early childhood years which ultimately shape how we view ourselves in relation to our world. What we think of ourselves based upon the messages we have received as children, becomes our personal belief system in life.
If you are struggling with negativity, negative self-talk, pessimism, a defeatist attitude, or insecurity, ask God to show you the origin. What negative message(s) did you receive early on in life that has falsely shaped how you see yourself? Ask God to uproot the source of that false perception and replace it with the truth of His Word.
We can overcome negative self-talk through the power of the Word of God. For example, a negative thought like, "I can't do it", can immediately be stopped, refuted, and replaced with a statement like, "I can do it. The Word of God says, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'--(Philippians 4:13)."
When the negative thought intrudes, stop it! Refute it by speaking the Word of God!
(See the Biblical Decrees page.)