Focusing on negative thoughts may lead to decreased motivation as well as greater feelings of helplessness. This type of critical inner dialogue has even been linked to depression, so it’s definitely something to fix. Those who find themselves frequently engaging in negative self-talk tend to be more stressed.

Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information. If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, your outlook on life is more likely pessimistic.

That’s much easier said than done, but here are several ways to help halt negative thoughts and self-talk:

1. Breathe.
2. Acknowledge It.
3. Consider The Cause.
4. Stop Expecting Perfection.
5. Surround Yourself With Positivity.
6. Build A Routine.
7. Make A Conscious Choice To Silence Those Thoughts.

Try these 7 ways to manage (and decrease) your negative thoughts:

1. Recognize thought distortions.
2. Challenge negative thoughts.
3. Take a break from negative thoughts.
4. Release judgment.
5. Practice gratitude.
6. Focus on your strengths.

Learn To Be Assertive And Love it!

1. Put Negative Stuff In A Box.
2. Try The Power Of Possible Thinking.
3. Ask Yourself If You’re Really So Guilty.
4. Put A Better Spin On Things.
5. Ask: What Would My Best Friend Say?
6. Give Your Inner Critic A Name.
7. Give Your Rants A Name, Too.
8. Pick Up The Phone.

Why You Might Put Yourself Down You may feel insecure, believe you’re not worthy or it might be a habit to put yourself down. You could be used to saying “I can’t,” “I don’t have talent,” “I’m ugly,” “I’m stupid” or “I’m useless.” You might have been put down by others in the past and continue to put yourself down.

To belittle means to put down, or to make another person feel as though they aren’t important. Saying mean things about another person literally makes them feel “little.” To belittle someone is a cruel way of making someone else seem less important than yourself.

Self-love is absolutely necessary for a person to be able to give the love to others that they ought to get as part of a healthy relationship. It looks like they love the other more than themselves when actually this is not love at all. It’s neediness and there is no love there for themself or the other.

Truth: There’s no such thing as loving someone too much. Also true though: There is such a thing, though, as too much smothering. And smothering can definitely scare someone away. When you love someone, you want what’s best for the person, even if that means the relationship looks different from what you had in mind.

22 Ways to love yourself

1. Know yourself. It’s impossible to love yourself if you don’t even know who you are.
2. Say “no” when you need to.
3. Don’t compare yourself to others.
4. Be truly present.
5. Accept that some people won’t like you.
6. Make fun a priority.
7. Practice gratitude.
8. Feel your feelings.

Here are some tips on loving yourself first before searching for love in your life.

1. Be kind to yourself. You may have hurts, emotional pain, and shortcomings.
2. Feel the love within you and be that love.
3. Give yourself a break.
4. Embrace yourself.
5. Be grateful.
6. Give yourself in service to others.

Knowing yourself will also keep you on track to getting exactly what you want and need from your partner, while also saving you from getting stuck in something toxic. Below, a few important things you should know and think about before starting a new relationship.

7 Secrets to a Healthy Dating Relationship

1. Build your relationship on common ground. “Opposites attract” is a popular expression, but it’s not really true.
2. Avoid making snap judgments.
3. Pay attention to values.
4. Respect each other’s individuality.
5. No smothering allowed.
6. Remember that love isn’t static.
7. Know your bottom line.
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