We all have one but we don’t like to talk about it. Some folks mistake it for their conscience. Some folks try to ignore it. Some folks go to extremes to drown it out with alcohol or drugs. But it is always there. That little voice in your head that tells you that you will never reach that goal or that you are never going to get what you want is real and can’t be ignored.

One of the sayings therapists live by is “what you resist, persists.” Ignoring something does not make it go away. Take that little voice that I have affectionately titled My Inner Nazi. Regardless of how I would try to disregard MIN’s invectives, they would echo in my head when things did not work out. MIN was always there to point out the failures and remind me that I just wasn’t good enough. I found that I really paid attention to the barrage of insults when I was at my lowest; funny how I would listen when I was in complete agreement with this anti-cheerleader. My Inner Nazi was my worst enemy.

Once I realized that I was not alone with MIN, that other people had that voice in their head that reminded them that they were less than, I began to practice a few things to put My Inner Nazi in her place.

1. I stopped ignoring the voice. I acknowledged that I had a part of me that felt that it wasn’t good enough. I had to face it to overcome it.
2. I tried to identify the voice. My Inner Nazi did not have my voice. I identified whose voice it was and tried to understand why I would have that recording looped in my brain with that person’s voice.
3. I recorded some of my own motivational talking. Self-talk is an amazing thing. When you remind yourself — in your own voice, be it through affirmation or just in conversation — that you are an unlimited source of energy and power that can conquer any task and rise above any obstacle, you will believe it and be it.
4. I do not speak badly about myself. The Inner Nazi does not need any help. If you like saying things like, “I’m so stupid” or “I can’t do that” you are just reaffirming the negativity in your mind. Never speak critically of yourself. It does not serve you. This does not mean make excuses or not take responsibility. Just don’t use disparaging words about yourself.

Once I stuck to this regimen, My Inner Nazi became a softer voice in the background noise in my mind. In other words, I had my Inner Ninja overtake my Inner Nazi.

Badass Ninjas

This does not happen overnight. You need to practice it. You will find that after a while, you can talk yourself into anything. Try this for your new inner voice: “You are a positive, powerful person with unlimited potential.”

xo

Lee

About Lee

Lee is the co-writer of CoupleDumb.com. She practices Positive Psychology and has been known to have an opinion or two. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest at CoupleDumb.

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