120 Positive and Negative Self Talk Examples to Observe and React

Positive Self Talk Examples: Positive and negative self-talk are the powerful inner dialogs that shape our self-perception, influence our emotions, and ultimately impact our actions and outcomes.

These are the conversations we have with ourselves, often subconsciously, that can either bolster our confidence and resilience or undermine our self-esteem and well-being. In this exploration of positive and negative self-talk examples, we will delve into the various ways in which our internal narratives can either propel us towards success and self-empowerment or hold us back and hinder our personal growth.

By understanding these examples, we can begin to harness the transformative potential of our self-talk to lead more fulfilling lives and achieve our goals with greater confidence.

Related: Feel Good about Yourself

Table of Contents

Positive Self Talk Examples

I am capable and intelligent.

I am worthy of love and respect.

I can handle whatever challenges come my way.

I am grateful for all the good things in my life.

I am learning and growing every day.

I am making a difference in the world.

I am proud of myself for all that I have accomplished.

I am excited for the future

I am loved and supported by my family and friends.

I am a valuable and important part of the world.

You can use these positive self-talk statements in any situation, whether you are feeling confident or discouraged. Just repeat them to yourself over and over again, and eventually they will start to sink in and become your belief system.

Positive Self Talk Examples for Boosting Self Confidence

I am capable and worthy.

I am enough.

I am strong and resilient.

I believe in myself and my abilities.

I am grateful for all the good things in my life.

I am excited for the future.

I am surrounded by people who love and support me.

I am making a difference in the world.

I am proud of myself for all that I have accomplished.

I am worthy of happiness and success.

You can use these positive self-talk statements in any situation, but they can be especially helpful when you are feeling down about yourself or when you are facing a challenge. Repeat them to yourself over and over again, and eventually they will start to sink in and become your belief system.

Positive Self Talk Examples for Managing Stress and Anxiety

I am calm and in control.

I can handle this situation.

I am safe and protected.

This feeling is temporary.

I am breathing deeply and relaxing.

I have everything I need to cope with this.

I am grateful for all the good things in my life.

I am surrounded by people who love and support me.

I am strong and resilient.

I will get through this.

You can use these positive self-talk statements in any situation where you are feeling stressed or anxious. Repeat them to yourself over and over again, and eventually they will start to sink in and help you to calm down.

Positive Self Talk Examples for Motivation and Goal Achievement

I am capable of achieving my goals.

I am committed to my success.

I have the skills and resources I need to succeed.

I am willing to put in the hard work and dedication required to succeed.

I am not afraid to fail. I learn from my mistakes and keep moving forward.

I am visualizing myself achieving my goals.

I am celebrating my successes along the way.

I surround myself with positive and supportive people.

I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue my goals.

I am excited to see what the future holds.

You can use these positive self-talk statements in any situation where you need a boost of motivation or when you are feeling discouraged about your goals. Repeat them to yourself over and over again, and eventually they will start to sink in and help you to stay focused and motivated.

Positive Self Talk Examples for Improving Self Image and Self Love

I am worthy of love and respect.

I am beautiful inside and out.

I am enough.

I am strong and resilient.

I am grateful for all the good things in my life.

I am proud of myself for all that I have accomplished.

I am excited for the future.

I am worthy of happiness and success.

I am surrounded by people who love and support me.

I am making a difference in the world.

You can use these positive self-talk statements in any situation, but they can be especially helpful when you are feeling down about yourself or when you are comparing yourself to others. Repeat them to yourself over and over again, and eventually they will start to sink in and become your belief system.

Positive Self Talk Examples for Relationship and Communication

I am a good communicator.

I am open and honest with my partner.

I am a good listener.

I am respectful of my partner’s feelings and opinions.

I am willing to compromise.

I am grateful for my relationship.

I am committed to making my relationship work.

I am proud of the person I am in this relationship.

I am excited about the future of my relationship.

I am worthy of love and happiness.

You can use these positive self-talk statements in any situation where you are interacting with your partner or other people in your relationships. Repeat them to yourself over and over again, and eventually they will start to sink in and help you to communicate more effectively and to build stronger relationships.

Negative Self Talk Examples for Identifying Harmful Self-Talk Patterns

I’m not good enough.

I’m a failure.

I’m worthless.

I’m ugly.

I’m stupid.

I’m unlovable.

I’m a burden to others.

I’m a loser.

I’m a disappointment.

I’ll never be successful.

You may not say these things to yourself out loud, but if you are having these thoughts, it is important to be aware of them. Negative self-talk can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional health. It can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It can also sabotage your relationships and career.

Negative Self Talk Examples for Impact on Physical Health and Well-Being

Negative self-talk can have a significant impact on both your physical and emotional health. This can lead to:

Increased stress levels. When you are constantly putting yourself down, your body releases stress hormones such as cortisol. Over time, high levels of stress can lead to a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

Weakened immune system. Stress can also weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness.

Poor sleep quality. Negative self-talk can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. This can lead to fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

Headaches and other physical symptoms. Stress can also cause physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, and stomach aches.

Depression and anxiety. Negative self-talk can contribute to depression and anxiety. These mental health conditions can have a significant impact on your overall health and well-being.

Negative Self Talk Examples in Relationships

I’m not good enough for my partner.

My partner is too good for me.

My partner will eventually leave me for someone better

I’m not worthy of love and happiness.

I’m a burden to my partner.

My partner doesn’t love me the way they used to.

I’m going to lose my partner.

I’m going to be alone forever.

I’m not lovable.

I’m going to ruin this relationship.

These negative self-talk patterns can lead to a number of problems in relationships, including:

Communication problems. Negative self-talk can make it difficult to communicate effectively with your partner. For example, if you are constantly telling yourself that your partner doesn’t love you, you may be more likely to withdraw from them or to become defensive.

Conflict. Negative self-talk can also lead to conflict in relationships. For example, if you are constantly criticizing yourself, your partner may feel like they need to walk on eggshells around you.

Low self-esteem. Negative self-talk can also damage your self-esteem. This can make it difficult to trust yourself and to make decisions in your relationship.

Jealousy and insecurity. Negative self-talk can also lead to feelings of jealousy and insecurity. For example, if you are constantly telling yourself that you’re not good enough for your partner, you may be more likely to compare yourself to others or to be suspicious of your partner’s behavior.

Negative Self Talk Examples for Overcoming Self-Sabotage

I’m not good enough.

I’m a failure.

I don’t deserve to be successful.

I’m going to mess this up.

I’m not smart enough.

I’m not capable.

I’m not worthy of love and happiness.

I’m going to disappoint everyone.

I’m going to fail.

I’m going to give up.

These negative self-talk patterns can lead to self-sabotaging behaviors, such as:

Procrastination. Putting off tasks until the last minute or avoiding them altogether.

Perfectionism. Set unrealistic standards for yourself and feel like you’re never good enough.

Self-doubt. Questioning your abilities and doubting your ability to succeed.

Negative self-fulfilling prophecies. Believing that you’re going to fail, so you don’t even try.

Risk-aversion. Avoid new challenges and opportunities because you’re afraid of failure.

Negative Self Talk Examples to Avoid

I’m not good enough.

I’m a failure.

I’m worthless.

I’m stupid.

I’m ugly.

I’m unlovable.

I’m a burden to others.

I’m a loser.

I’m a disappointment.

I’ll never be successful.

These negative self-talk patterns can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional health. They can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. They can also sabotage your relationships and career.

Quotes about Positive Self Talk

Positive and Negative Self Talk Examples to Observe and React

“With my thoughts, I make the world.”

“You can’t change your past, but you can choose how you let it affect your future.”

“Be mindful of your self-talk. It’s a conversation with the universe.” ― David James

“Positive self-talk can build your self-confidence.” ― Stanley T. Crawford

“When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”

“I’m a positive person and a positive thinker. I am grateful for the positive outlook in my life,”

“I am confident in my abilities, and I know that everything happens for a reason.”

“I am happy, I am positive, and I am always looking on the bright side.”

“This is the moment! You can do it!”

“The future starts today – it starts with what you think about today.”

“A pessimist sees the dark side of everything; an optimist sees the light.”

“You cannot help someone else until you help yourself.”

“People don’t change; they merely alter their circumstances to gain positive results.”

“I have everything I need to succeed. All I need is to believe in myself.”

“You have the power to choose how you will respond to every situation.”

“Don’t believe everything you tell yourself.”― Lidia Longorio, Hey Humanity

Relentless, repetitive self-talk is what changes our self-image.―Denis Waitley

“You are your own best friend. You are your own worst enemy, and you are your savior.”

“It is what we think about that determines our destiny.”

“We all have problems, obstacles, and challenges in our lives. But when we talk to ourselves negatively, it puts the lid right on the can.”

“You will always have a choice. No one will force you to fail. No one will take away your dreams. You will only ever have to face the truth about yourself.”

“We need to give ourselves positive affirmations that make us feel good about ourselves. It’s a simple concept, but one that many people surprisingly overlook.”

Bring acceptance and compassionate self-talk. Say nice things to yourself – you’re the only one listening. Tell yourself, I am doing the best I can.―Gabrielle Bernstein.

The inner speech, your thoughts, can cause you to be rich or poor, loved or unloved, happy or unhappy, attractive or unattractive, powerful or weak.―Ralph Charell.

If human emotions largely result from thinking, then one may appreciably control one’s feelings by controlling one’s thoughts – or by changing the internalized sentences, or self-talk, with which one largely created the feeling in the first place.―Albert Ellis