Why naïve optimists don’t cope when life gets messy
If you’re a naïve optimist, life sometimes takes you by surprise – and not in a good way. For instance, you can be shocked by the unthinking or even callous way that some people behave....
Manage thoughts
How to make positive affirmations work better for you
You’ve all heard the folk wisdom: positive affirmations change how you see yourself. But how can you make positive affirmations work if you have low self-esteem? According to the theory, you repeatedly tell yourself you...
Be realistic – you can’t always make someone else happy
Do you give yourself a hard time for minor lapses? If so, learn to identify your unhelpful self-talk. In the process, let go of unreasonable rules you hold for yourself. For example, you may believe...
Challenge negative self-beliefs: be kind to yourself
Do you hold a poor opinion of yourself? Do you exaggerate your faults and feel terrible about small lapses? Challenge negative self-beliefs to see if they’re really valid. In the process, be kind and reach...
Change self-imposed rules into more helpful advice
Do you do things you don’t want to, just to keep the peace? Do you agree with others so they won’t ridicule your opinions? What makes you act against your own interests like this? Perhaps...
Focus on real problems, not useless worries
Worriers often worry about things that are unlikely to happen. In contrast, non-worriers focus on the problems most likely to happen. In addition, they take note of how serious the consequences might be. That allows...
Want to get rid of dread? Banish worry
Worriers are often filled with dread all day. Sometimes it’s just an uneasy sense that something bad is going to happen. But often they can’t put their finger on exactly what’s worrying them. Others churn...
Why worriers see the world as full of danger
We all worry about different things. What stresses me doesn’t stress you. But it’s true that worriers see the world as full of danger. Some people love giving speeches; others would rather die. Some people...
Get to know factors that shaped your identity
What made you the person you are? Could you list all the factors that shaped your identity? If you do, you may be surprised at the length of the list. In our society, we tend...
Reviewing the past? Take the best, drop the rest.
As an adult, you can choose to review past events. This can be scary, and even lead to arguments with others. These tips will help you take the best from the past, while rejecting those...
10 ways you sabotage yourself when setting goals
Is fear hold you back from changing your life? Do you sabotage yourself when setting goals? Learn to deal with common blocks that may stop you setting or following through on your goals. The process...
Tough start in life? You know more than you think
Do you sometimes feel you’ve been left behind? That you don’t understand how to cope with day-to-day demands? Learn to value the resilience you’ve developed after a tough start in life. Read on for tips...
Negative self-talk: be more aware of its hurtful impact
Are you aware of talking to yourself all the time? Let’s call this the internal chatter or self-talk of your brain. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you’re going crazy. Everyone has internal chatter All day,...
Overcome self-sabotage and succeed in setting goals
Self-sabotage is a common problem when setting goals. If you’re not aware of your internal chatter, you can talk yourself out of making changes in life before you’ve even started. Overcome negative thinking and self-defeating...
Identify if negative self-talk is sabotaging your life
Does your internal chatter pull down your mood? Do you tell yourself you’ll never get anywhere? Identify if negative self-talk is sabotaging your life. Identifying self-talk Learning to identify your negative self-talk can be tricky...
Self-acceptance: do you see yourself realistically?
To live your best life, you need to be honest about yourself. Realistic self-assessment promotes knowledge of your strengths, as well as areas that need further attention. See yourself realistically to promote self-acceptance, and work...
