So there are always two voices going on in my head. One voice which is positive and strong and another one which is, you guessed it, negative and weak. These voices are always talking and at any point, one or the other might be talking louder. I’m sure you all know what I mean?
I’ve taught myself a handy little technique for shutting up the negative voice and I’d like to share it with you today, in case it might be helpful for you too.
I love going for a long walk everyday with my little boy. We usually walk to our local shopping centre and when we get there we might have a coffee together before we do our grocery shopping. Then it’s time for the walk home. It’s about a mile there and a mile back so there’s plenty of time for my two voices to talk to each other!
Usually what happens is the positive and strong voice starts the conversation with something like, ‘What a lovely day it is! Summer is coming! Everything is great, I feel great, all is well, I beat cancer!’
Soon though, the negative voice might pipe up. ‘You’re ok now, but will you stay ok? Are you really ok? Are you sure your cancer isn’t back?’ Arrgh.
Before this spirals out of control – I apply my technique. Here it is. It’s super technical, you see. It involves me getting out my metaphorical Big Girl Pants (in my mind) and my Wellbeing Mantra (also in my mind) – a loud voice which says, over and over:
‘I am healthy, I am strong, I am well’.
And on I walk, with those words going through my mind, over and over, over and over, to replace that negative voice, drown it out, shut it down. Repeating this mantra in my mind fills my thoughts with these powerful words and doesn’t allow for any negative thoughts to chime in. And, it works! Well, for me anyway.
I first started doing this back when I was getting my radiotherapy treatments. That big machine used to frighten the living daylights out of me. Repeating this mantra over and over helped me get through each session feeling strong and positive.
Maybe this mental technique could work for you too? Next time your voices are having a shouting match – give it a try and let me know in the comments how it goes!
Have a lovely weekend everyone.
By Happy Magazine Editor, Holly Kennedy
