Overcoming Negative Self-Talk

A few years ago, I came across a home video of myself from when my kids were still babies and toddlers. We were living in Chicago, and I had just turned 30. I was up to my eyeballs in diapers, sippy cups, board books, exhaustion, and insecurities. My children were tiny and precious, silly and messy, their toys scattered everywhere, and dishes were piled in the sink. And I could see in my face the stress I was feeling. It was like time-traveling to the early 2000s and re-experiencing that season of my life where I so desperately wanted to be this idealized version of a mother I had pieced together from books, magazine articles, and observing other moms who seemed to have it so much more together than I ever did. 

Twenty years later, I could easily recognize the fleeting sweetness of those baby and early childhood years, but I also remembered, like it was yesterday, how frustrated I felt with myself for our disorganized home, for losing my temper when I swore I wouldn't, for caving to screen time when I was overwhelmed, for relying on processed food for my picky eater. 

I wanted to go back in time and hold my babies again, to hug myself and speak kind and comforting words into my mind and heart: “Be gentle with yourself.  Don't compare yourself or your kids to anyone else. Be present, not perfect. Your sweet children will grow up to be thoughtful, creative, funny, loving, resilient, and good to one another!” 

But hindsight is 20/20, and there are always new insecurities and new temptations to berate ourselves for our weaknesses. So let’s talk about it!

This month on our Filled With Less podcast, Cynthia and I sat down for an honest conversation about negative self-talk and the toll it can take on our peace, growth, and relationships. We also explored three different mindset shifts for overcoming negative self-talk including recognizing we are a work in progress, detaching our sense of worth in Christ from our frailties and setbacks, and focusing on drawing out what is beautiful in ourselves and others. 

If your inner dialogue could use a reset, perhaps this episode will be an encouragement to you! Click HERE to listen!