The words we use have a powerful impact on our mental health and well-being. For many women, negative self-talk is a daily struggle, whether it’s about our weight, age, or even natural bodily functions like menstruation.
From an early age, women are bombarded with unrealistic beauty standards in the media, leading to constant comparisons and self-criticism.
With the rise of social media and photo filters, these beauty ideals have only worsened, leaving many women feeling inadequate.
If you’ve ever found yourself caught in a cycle of negative self-talk, you're not alone. You may hear thoughts like:
‘You shouldn’t have done that’
‘Why didn’t you do that’
‘Why did you say that?’
’You aren’t worthy of this’
These thoughts can become so ingrained that they feel automatic, and sometimes you may not even realize how harshly you’re speaking to yourself.
But there is hope—by recognizing and addressing negative self-talk, you can begin the journey to greater self-love, confidence, and emotional healing.
There’s a deeper meaning behind negative self-talk. Beneath it lies a core belief which is often non-serving and very untrue.
For example: A core belief of ‘I’m unworthy’ will be supported by your own thoughts:
’My partner left me for someone better’
’I never have good luck’
etc…
When you change your thoughts, you change your core belief.
Your core beliefs represent how you see the world and this is developed from life’s experiences.
When we face a challenge, our core beliefs motivate how we interpret that challenge. Our chosen interpretation is going to determine how we feel emotionally, and from here, our actions are born.
By paying attention to your negative self-talk, you'll often find that your thoughts about a current situation are linked to something that happened in your past.
How to Break Free from Negative Self-Talk
Breaking free from negative self-talk can be challenging, especially because many people aren't fully aware of their negative thought patterns. However, with the right tools and awareness, it's possible to overcome negative self-talk and build a more positive mindset.
To develop awareness of your negative thoughts, it's essential to commit to daily mindfulness practices that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit.
Some effective mindfulness practices include:
Yoga Nidra: A powerful relaxation practice that helps quiet the mind and increase body awareness.
Meditation: Regular meditation helps you observe your thoughts without judgment and develop mental clarity.
Body-Awareness Exercises: Techniques like body scans can help you tune into your body’s sensations, which are often linked to your emotional state.
By incorporating these mindfulness practices into a simple daily self-care routine, you'll begin to notice how certain thoughts and emotions manifest in specific areas of your body.
For example, some people feel self-doubt as a lightness or unease in their stomach, while others experience sadness as a tightness in their heart or throat.
Everyone’s experience is unique, so it's important to approach these sensations with self-compassion and kindness.
By acknowledging and accepting your feelings without judgment, you can begin to break the cycle of negative self-talk and cultivate a more balanced, positive mindset.
Overcoming Negative Self-Talk: The Key to Lasting Confidence and Self-Love
It’s nearly impossible to love your body and embrace confidence when you're constantly battling negative self-talk.
These harmful thought patterns block self-compassion, self-acceptance, and joy, keeping you stuck in a cycle of self-doubt and insecurity.
Here’s what I discovered many years ago when I finally decided I was tired of living in fear and uncertainty:
I had to prioritize daily mindfulness practices in order to become more aware of my negative self-talk. Through mindfulness, I began to notice the unfair and limiting stories I was telling myself about who I couldn’t be and how unworthy I felt.
As I began my healing journey, I allowed myself to be seen.
I reached out to teachers, mentors, and a supportive community, sharing my truth. It was incredibly liberating to realize how many other women were also struggling with the same self-critical thoughts.
Being seen is a crucial part of the healing process.
Trusting that you are not alone on this journey can lead you to a more compassionate and accepting way of being. Embracing vulnerability and connecting with others is often the first step toward healing negative self-talk and building lasting self-confidence.
Transforming your mindset from negative self-talk to confidence
It starts with committing to daily at-home mindfulness practices. Each day, could you explore some or all of the following:
Breathwork
Meditation, yoga nidra
Gentle asanas for body awareness
Skillful observation (this is a process of seeing your thoughts as words with no inherent meaning or power).
Journaling: Note what comes up during your practices (feelings, doubts, emotions, fears, etc)
Keep it simple. Even 5-10 minutes a day to explore these practices is more than enough to start noticing change from within.
Practicing Positive Beliefs and Releasing Negative Self-Talk for Continued Confidence
The next step in overcoming negative self-talk is to practice new positive beliefs and release the non-serving ones.
Establishing a daily self-care routine can significantly boost your self-awareness, helping you quickly identify and understand how negative thoughts show up in your body.
When you notice a negative belief or thought, take a moment to pause and compassionately acknowledge it:
"This belief no longer serves me. I have the freedom to invite a new, uplifting belief about myself."
By consistently replacing negative self-talk with positive affirmations and new beliefs, you gradually transform your self-confidence.
The key is remembering that you have the power to choose what you believe about yourself.
Through mindfulness practices, I learned that my own thoughts were the root cause of much of my suffering. I had unknowingly created an inner "bully" that affected my confidence, relationships, and joy.
Recognizing this allowed me to challenge my negative thought patterns and invite more empowering beliefs into my life.
The Power of Neuroplasticity: How Your Brain Can Change
It’s important to understand that neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to change—plays a significant role in how we can transform our thought patterns. Your brain is constantly rewiring itself based on the habits you practice, so making consistent changes can lead to lasting transformation.
Here are some habits that can help change your brain and reinforce new positive beliefs:
Exercise: Regular physical activity supports brain health and emotional well-being.
Adequate Sleep: Quality rest is essential for mental clarity and emotional resilience.
Good Nutrition: Eating nutrient-dense foods fuels brain function and emotional balance.
Stress Management: Practices like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing help reduce stress and improve mental health.
Just like paving a new path in the forest, changing your brain requires consistency.
By practicing mindfulness, meditation, exercise, yoga, and good nutrition consistently, you are rewiring your brain to reinforce positive beliefs and boost your confidence.
Bottom Line:
Thoughts determine how we feel in our bodies. Beneath non-serving thoughts lies a healing journey to reveal your core beliefs that were formed from a younger age.
With a bit of self-compassion, guidance, and a mindfulness practices, you can absolutely release those non-serving thoughts and find more confidence and joy in your body.
Remember, self-criticism turns on your stress response and touches the fight or flight part of your brain. It’s not possible to feel confident and connected to your body when you’re in this state.
So the next time you notice a non-serving thought, consider how it impacts your confidence.
Change your thoughts, change your confidence.
Next Steps:
If you're ready to break-free from negative self talk, self-doubt, and stress, my self-care audio routines can help. This 10-minute daily routine guides you through simple exercises to:
Boost confidence and joy
Reduce stress, self-doubt, and worry
Calm and balance the nervous system
The self-care audio routines are customized to help women feel less stress and more confidence in just 10-minutes per day.
Start your healing journey today: https://wildwomb.space/selfcareroutines
Joss Frank, Yoga Therapist C-IAYT
I’m Joss, founder of Wild Womb, and I specialize in empowering people to heal, reclaim their power, and build lasting self-confidence.
After years of struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma, I discovered that true healing comes from within. Through my personal journey of self-healing, I learned that the key to overcoming physical and emotional challenges lies in reconnecting with the body, cultivating inner awareness, and embracing holistic practices.
As a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), I now guide people through transformative healing processes that address both the physical and emotional aspects of their well-being. My work combines somatic therapy, yoga therapy, and emotional healing practices to help people cultivate self-love and lasting inner peace.
Whether you're struggling with mental health, trauma recovery, or building a positive relationship with your body, I’m here to support you on your healing journey.