The Importance of Self-Encouragement
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — While pep talks from others can be reassuring, experts highlight the significance of self-encouragement and gaining your own perspective. Engaging in a self-directed pep talk can help you explore different ways of thinking and motivate new behaviors.
Insights from Dr. Danielle Henderson
Dr. Danielle Henderson, a clinical psychologist with IU Health, emphasizes the importance of validating your feelings and recognizing that perfection is not always attainable. “We can be really hard on ourselves. We can be our own worst critic and life can be hard,” she explains.
Getting Comfortable with Self-Talk
Although this practice may feel awkward at first, Dr. Henderson assures that you will become more comfortable over time. To manage your emotions effectively, she suggests taking a few minutes alone to focus on your breathing, thoughts, and feelings.
Reframing Challenges
When faced with challenges, try to reframe the situation by identifying a potential positive angle. This approach can provide new perspectives and make difficulties more manageable. “Sometimes we jump to a not-so-helpful conclusion or come up with the worst possible thought. Reframing gives us a moment to talk about what can be some other reasons this happened,” Dr. Henderson notes.
Shifting Focus
Experts recommend shifting your focus from unfinished tasks to listing up to 10 actions you’ve completed and benefited from. Dr. Henderson adds, “Children, adults we can all see our peers and feel like they have it made like nobody’s struggling and everything seems to come a bit easier for others, but not for me, and that certainly just is not the case.”
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