I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:1-3 NLT(img)
Self-talk is that running commentary that accompanies each of us throughout our day. It can be positive, affirming me in what I am thinking and doing. More often it is negative, and I am left pondering my vulnerability and shrinking deeper inside myself. This self-talk can make the difference in my experiencing a positive or a negative day.
Jayne has been excellent over all the years I’ve known her in bravely calling me out when I put myself down. You may not be too aware of your self-talk. Take some time listening to your inner monologue. Is it negative or positive? Write down repeated negative thinking. Then reflect on how true your self-criticism is. Is it built upon assumption, with perhaps a small grain of truth? If I submit to my self-talk, it will shape my mood and behaviour. It’s why many people find themselves growing ever more critical and dissatisfied the older they get.
Self-talk is the script we use to frame our lives and builds unhealthy habits. Our emotional response will be our instinctive reaction to our self-talk. So I choose to proclaim God’s praises. I discovered this years ago when facing a negative health diagnosis. My self-talk declared “catastrophe” and I feared my life had already reached its unhappy conclusion. With the aid of some praise and worship CDs I deliberately proclaim thanks to God, regardless of my mood. As I reset the triggers activated by my self-talk, I established a more positive mindset which in turn lifted my spirit, positively influencing my behaviour.
QUESTION
Are you aware of the repetitive themes from your inner voice? Do you want to reprogramme that self-talk to reflect God’s love and acceptance of you?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I can easily stray into a negative persona, and withdraw into shame and self-hate. May I live in the liberty of your forgiveness and love, my nakedness covered by your righteousness.
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