Negative Self Talk

What's more defeating than a negative word from another?  A negative thought from oneself.  Words matter and a comment from someone either friend or foe or stranger can infiltrate our very soul if we allow it.  The harm comes though when we don't work through the negative in the moment but instead harbor it like it's a pet.  Negative self talk becomes our reality if we harbor it long enough.  For example, telling yourself that you can't do something does in fact prevent you from doing it.  Negative self talk becomes self fulling prophecy after a time.  We limit ourselves far more than any circumstance or outside person or influence ever will.

So someone tells you something negative about you....First, who is this person to you and under what circumstance was the negative spoken?  Sure there are things we need to hear about ourselves to grow.  We are not talking about constructive criticism here.  Someone spewing their self doubt onto  you though is a totally different beast.  Discerning why it was said and thinking through the validity of both the statement and person's reasons for saying it is how you can work through whether it should be considered further or tossed to the curb of waste.  Inviting the garbage to hang around in our thoughts rather than immediately disposing of it lends to self doubt then negative self talk.