Don't Beat Yourself Up!

"I'm soooooo stressed out!"
"Check out my jiggly arms!"
"I'm so tired."
"I can't afford that."
"I'll never be able to do that."

Any of these sound familiar? These are just a few examples of the many ways we beat ourselves up every day!
Let's explore why these seemingly harmless phrases can really do a lot of damage. My Dad had many mantras; one of them was "Words mean things!" In this case it's especially true. Your mind, body and spirit are three entities that are often in conflict, and in these cases your mind and body (your thoughts and voice), are telling your spirit that you're no good! Would you imagine saying these things to or about a close friend? What if they said them to you?  Let's break them down one by one, and learn what to say instead.

"I'm soooooo stressed out!"
This phrase tells your spirit that you're defeated, that you can't handle what's in front of you. What happens when you can't handle what's in front of you? Your survival instincts kick in, because your body literally feels threatened. Your pulse quickens, your nervous system goes on high alert and you start looking for a way out. A coping mechanism - maybe an addiction? Remember addictions can be one of many many things - over eating, eating the wrong thing, video games, pornography, wasting time on the Internet, work. All these things give you a temporary feeling of empowerment, and in some cases, personal validation. The seemingly "positive" feelings that are achieved immediately after indulgences are fleeting and without foundation, and often throw us into a vicious cycle of guilt and beating ourselves up again.
Instead say "I can see some challenges, and there's nothing I can't do."
This phrase empowers you! You are telling your spirit that you are capable of facing whatever is in front of you.  You are capable and it becomes easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Believe yourself and believe in yourself!

"Check out my jiggly arms!"
An interesting connection is made in our brains here, and we don't even know it.  We need to be our biggest cheerleader, our own 24/7 personal trainer. If it's on your list of goals or on your vision board to get fit and shape up, quit telling yourself how un-beautiful you are! When we tell ourselves that we're fat, ugly, balding, etc. we basically give our body instructions. We behave as if we are fat, ugly, balding etc., which makes whatever we see worse.
Instead say "I am an athlete, and my body is an amazing machine!"  What if you thought of yourself as an athlete every time you looked in the mirror? You'd treat yourself differently! Athletes don't reach for that extra helping, athletes exercise every day. Athletes take good care of their bodies. You are an athlete!

Look next week for ways to improve your thoughts about our last two self-defeating phrases.  See if you can turn it around!

Remember, when your mind, body and spirit work in tandem, with your spirit leading the way, amazing things will happen!