Talking To Yourself Can Be Theraputic

I find it quite therapeutic to talk to myself.

I know it seems a bit strange but I think it's a really powerful practice to be able to speak to yourself like you're speaking to a friend because if you're able to vocalize something in a very positive way then it helps reframe your mind.

It helps your mind to operate in that way because our minds go down all sorts of rabbit holes all the time and our minds can often feel out of control but the way you talk to yourself programs your mind to talk to you in that way.

So it's a really powerful thing to talk out loud in a way where you're building yourself up or you're talking about some of the things you've gone through and it's really good to look in a mirror and do this and look into your eyes.

I mean I'm recording into this phone right now but I can see my reflection.

It's like I'm talking to myself.

I'm also talking to you but this is a really powerful practice for me as well.

That's why I really quite like this this feature here on Insight Timer.

I don't want to make it this incredible presentation every single video.

I just want to sit down and have a chat each time.

So that's what I'm gonna do today.

I'm gonna talk to myself so it might seem a bit strange to you but maybe you'll get something from it.

I don't know.

Let's find out.

So Nathan you've been pushing and pushing and pushing and pushing lately trying to get to a certain point in your life monetarily,

Emotionally,

Physically and you've been burning yourself out.

In fact it wasn't too long ago that you made yourself ill,

That you pushed yourself too much.

So what is it that you've learned?

Well you've learned that everything doesn't have to be achieved now and actually the journey of getting to where you want to get to is just as important as getting there.

So make the journey fun and not so hardcore.

Slow down.

Do things at a reasonable pace.

Don't burn yourself out man because you've been doing that lately and also remind yourself from time to time that it's important to take care of yourself as well as others.

That downtime is just as important as social time,

As connecting with other people.

That relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship you can ever nurture.

So take time for it.

You really need to and I understand why you've been that way.

You've been in fight-or-flight for a very long time because of some of the things you've gone through.

Lots of grief,

People passing in your family,

Your mum and your cousin and your uncles over the last couple of years and that's not an easy thing to go through and naturally it's going to trigger that fight-or-flight response and you should be proud of yourself.

You've been pushing and pushing and pushing and taking care of everyone and you've achieved so much despite what you've gone through.

But this is the gentle reminder that you don't need to hold the whole weight of the world on your shoulders.

You can relax,

You can let your shoulders drop from time to time and that's okay because there's nothing really required of you in life other than to be.

As long as you have the basic necessities cared for then you're doing alright.

As long as you share the love that you have in your heart,

As long as you notice the beauty in everything along the way then you're gonna do just fine.

And there's bright things ahead of you as well.

There are amazing things coming your way because of the person you've become.

You're now able to open new doors,

Seek new things,

Find new opportunities because of the person that you've become along the way.

I know there are moments of sadness and moments where your anxiety keeps you up at night and I feel for you in those moments.

But just know that when you do go through those things it's important during those times to take care of yourself.

Give yourself a hug and look in the mirror and say yeah things aren't working out in the perfect routine that you've planned in your head.

You didn't sleep too well last night and perhaps work's difficult today or you don't feel like going to this thing or that thing because of how you're feeling inside and that's okay.

You can also say no and set your boundaries.

It's good to do that.

And look at you now,

You're thriving.

So yeah,

Can you see how like talking to yourself in that way can be such a powerful practice?

And I really encourage you if there's someone watching right now that perhaps has been going through a tough time,

Talk to yourself like you're talking to one of your friends.

Be your own best friend,

Not your own worst enemy.

It's only gonna work in your favor being nice to yourself,

Right?

Yeah,

Our minds can be silly sometimes.

That's the recognition I have.

I can be hard on myself from time to time.

So if you're hard on yourself this is your reminder to be gentle to yourself and if no one said it to you in a very long time,

I'm proud of you.