Sometimes it feels like our brains are working against us. Our inner monologue seemingly takes delight in raining negativity on our efforts and sabotaging our confidence before we even begin. If you’ve noticed some of these signs, it may mean your brain is trying to get the better of you lately:
1. Your self-talk is ruthlessly self-critical
“You’re going to embarrass yourself out there.” “That bar looks wayyyy too high, no way you can clear that.” Does your inner voice spend more time hyping you up or poking holes in your abilities? Constant self-doubt is a sign you’re losing ground.
2. You assume the worst-case scenario
“Everyone else is so much faster than you.” “You’re already behind, why keep going?” Is your brain’s default to catastrophize and jump to the worst possible conclusion? This pessimistic streak can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
3. You talk yourself out of even trying
“Don’t even start, you’re going to fall flat on your face.” “Why did you even sign up for this? You’re just going to lose.” If your inner monologue convinces you to never get out of the starting blocks, it’s a clear sign your brain is weighing you down.
4. You fixate on past failures as predictors of the future
“Remember that time in 3rd grade when you failed at jumping rope? This will be just like that.” We all have past experiences that didn’t go as planned. But constantly using them as reasons you’ll fail again isself-sabotage.
5. You decision-fatigue yourself into inaction
“Maybe you should have practiced more instead of doubting yourself.” Letting yourself spiral into rounds of second-guessing can grind motivation to a halt.
If you’ve noticed a pattern of these types of thoughts, it’s a sign you may be losing the inner battle with your brain. The good news? You have more control than you think! Here are some ways to start winning it back:
Counter the anti-pep talks. Recognize when your inner coach has become overly critical, and purposefully course-correct with positive self-talk and affirmations.
Put your brain’s catastrophizing in perspective. Ask yourself – what’s the best case scenario here? And honestly, what’s the most likely outcome? Crowd out the negativity by considering other possibilities besides just the worst case.
Act “as if.” Refuse to let your doubts become self-fulfilling. Act as if you already have confidence, and start putting one foot in front of the other – those feelings will begin to follow.
Be a friend to yourself. Would you constantly speak to your best friend the way your inner voice speaks to you? Bring compassion and encouragement to the voice in your head.
Focus your mind on the task, not the baggage. Yes, past failures happened. But there’s a difference between learning from them and being shackled to them. Stay in the present moment.
Our brains can sometimes be our biggest bullies and hold us back from realizing our potential. But by noticing the self-sabotaging patterns and calling them out, you can steadily get back into the driver’s seat of your mind. Stay vigilant about your self-talk, and take back control
