What is the first word that comes to mind when you think about yourself? That initial response usually sums up how you truly feel about yourself. Is it good? Bad? Ugly?

Much like the old saying, you are what you eat, you also are what you think. Let’s think about this for few minutes…

Bad thoughts = negative & unhealthy reactions

If you immediately think negatively of yourself, then it goes without saying that you have an inner negative dialogue playing in your mind pretty often. Otherwise, you wouldn’t see yourself in such a bad light.

I was subjected to endless physical, mental, verbal, and emotional abuse as a child. For almost 18 years I was constantly told and treated like I was nothing and nobody. This negative input continued to play on and on in my mind even after I left home. (It still does today, and if I’m not careful, I start listening to it again.)

Input = Output

What goes in, will come out. If you constantly berate yourself and tell yourself you’re fat and ugly and worthless, then your reaction will fall into line with those thoughts. To prove yourself right, you’ll probably overeat and make poor choices in life.

Positive thoughts = happier, healthier living

You can change this. That’s the good news. But it will require diligence and great effort on your part. It won’t happen with the snap of a finger.

Feed yourself positive affirmations on a daily basis. As soon as you wake up in the morning, train yourself to repeat a mantra at least five times, something like…

• I am worthy of care and love.
• I am worthy of happiness.
• I am beautiful and lovely.
• Beauty surrounds me every day. I soak it in and then release it back to the world.

By creating your own powerful mantra, you can put the power back into your hands to be free from all that ugly, negative inner self-talk.

What do you think of yourself this very moment?