AP Corner

Positive Self Talk

The theme that ran through last week for me was all about self talk. At Girls on the Run, the girls shared some of the negative self-talk they do. Hearing our girls say they felt they were not worthy of being liked nor did they like themselves for a number of reasons was utterly heartbreaking. But it was also a powerful moment. For many of them, it was the first time they had admitted this to anyone and it was clear that they felt a sense of community with one another. After this activity, we came up with a code word (and gesture) to remind ourselves that we have the power to stop our negative self talk. We finished by sharing out the things that make us special and the things we like about ourselves. As we wrapped up our lesson, it was incredible to feel the shift in the culture of the room. Our girls left feeling happier, lighter, and prouder of themselves. 

I had the same feeling as I left PD on Friday. When we feel emotions, often times they stem from our experiences and our deep insecurities, some of which we aren't even aware of.  Some of these are feelings of worthiness, or effectiveness, or even a desire for perfectionism. But we have the power to stop that negative self talk immediately. We can say to ourselves that those insecurities are not true and flip it to the positive. This helps us respond to people and situations, rather than react to them. Stopping negative self-talk in it's tracks empowers us to manage our emotions, tell empowering stories, and maintain a disposition of realistic optimism. 

Thank you all for your active participation, reflection, and honesty at Friday's PD!