Believing in yourself is often easier said than done. People will tell others that they believe in themselves, yet they question their abilities behind closed doors. Of course, no one is perfect. You aren’t going to have full belief in yourself with every decision. You should, however, generally believe that although you may struggle, you have the courage and strength to get through the difficult moments. Self-talk is an important aspect of your recovery. Continue reading for more information about how you can work on your self-talk in your recovery.
A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy’
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” –Henry Ford
We can’t sum it up better than that. Your thoughts are self-fulfilling prophecies. If you think you can do something to further your recovery, you’ve already taken your first step. If you think that you can’t do something to further your recovery, you’ve already taken your final step. Your thoughts have the power to make or break your recovery. This is why so much of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) surrounds how your thoughts impact your behaviors.
Just because you have lots of positivity, however, doesn’t mean it’s going to be an easy road. It just means that you have one less thing to fight against if your thoughts are on your side. When you come to us, Sober Life can help you take control of your thoughts so that you exude confidence when it comes to your judgments, skills, and abilities.
Combatting Negative Self-Talk
Our inner critic can be unnecessarily negative at times if we let it run rampant. Some people have a good handle on their inner critic, letting it cautiously guide them to success. Others, however, don’t have as good a handle on their inner critic. Instead, their inner critic may have a handle on them. Falling into this trap isn’t where you want to be in your recovery.
If your inner critic is controlling you, it’s time to take control and combat that negative self-talk. What you think is what you believe, so if the thoughts are a string of negativity, you’ll soon begin to believe those negative things about yourself. These negative thoughts aren’t always explicit, either. This is why it takes a good amount of practice to filter those negative thoughts. Sometimes, they will pop up and you will realize them right off the bat.
Other times, they will slide under your radar in the tone of I can’t, I shouldn’t, I’m not, or What will other people think? Every time you entertain these thoughts, you’re playing their game. You must learn to shut down these thoughts and take control. You have the power to believe in yourself.
Challenge Your Self-Criticism
If you’re struggling with taking control of your thoughts, start by challenging them. Every time you criticize yourself saying I can’t, I shouldn’t, I’m not, ask why not? Every time your mind wanders and you wonder what other people will think, remind yourself that you are the one with the power. The belief that you can do something must start from within.
If your self-criticism is telling you that you can’t recover, you shouldn’t get help, or that you are not worth it, ask yourself why not? Why can’t you recover? Why shouldn’t you get help? Why are you not worth it? Chances are, you won’t have a good comeback for your criticism. Stop fueling the negativity in your head. Instead, challenge it and ask why not?
Self-Belief in Others Versus Ourselves
It’s very often that we recognize self-belief in other people. If your best friend is hoping for a promotion, they might tell you how much they think they deserve it. That’s self-belief. If your partner is excited about something new that they think they’ve done well, that’s self-belief. We don’t scoff at the self-belief of others and tell them that they can’t or shouldn’t do something. So, why do we do this with ourselves?
We are sometimes taught that believing in ourselves means that we are being self-indulgent. This just isn’t true. We don’t tell others that they shouldn’t believe in themselves, but when it comes to us, we think it’s selfish. Don’t allow yourself to believe the rhetoric that genuine confidence and belief in self is selfish. You are allowed to stand up for yourself without being seen as selfish. In fact, learning to stand up for yourself allows you to stand up for others.
Instead of reinforcing the negativity in your mind, stand up for yourself by challenging the criticisms. Figure out what is holding you back. If you genuinely are not able to do something, ask yourself what skills you need to work on so that you can do that thing. Treat yourself with love and compassion, allowing yourself to trust in your abilities.
Sober Life wants to help you believe in yourself and in your recovery. You have the power to change your life. Substance use doesn’t have to have a handle on your forever. If you’re being critical of yourself, ask yourself why not? Each step you take toward recovery is a step in the right direction. Take the first step today by calling Sober Life at 1-619-542-9542. Our trained and experienced staff cannot wait to speak with you. You won’t be disappointed by what we have to offer. Call now!
