Positive and Negative Self Talk Worksheets

We often keep an inner dialogue with ourselves that keeps tabs on how we are doing and can be used to motivate or deter us. Depending one how we pose this dialogue to ourselves regularly can affect our short term and eventually long-term mental health. Positive self-talk is the form that we use to motivate ourselves such as, “I’m doing a great job!” or “Even though I may not be the best, I get better every day.” Negative self-talk goes in the opposite direction where we question why we are doing something because feel an impending doom or failure. Sticking with positives to any situation is always a much better choice for our own wellbeing. These worksheets will help students explore both avenues of self-talk and help them make better choices.

Positive and Negative Self Talk Worksheets To Print:

Stop Negative Thoughts - Negative self talk is a bad habit that fills the mind with negativity and obscures your true power and options in a situation. The first step to breaking the negative self talk habit is to recognize it when it is happening.

Make the Switch! - The table below contains a list of situations that tend to be stressful for many people, as well as some typical examples of the kind of negative self talk people sometimes use when faced with these situations.

Be Positive - Look at all the negative stuff floating around in your brain and see if you can spin them in a positive way.

Overcoming the Negative - Practice identifying, letting go of, and replacing one of your recurring negative thoughts.

How to Challenge Them - Each time you experience a negative thought, instead of automatically accepting that the thought is true, take a moment to challenge the thought.

Listen to Yourself - Use the log below to record your self talk today.

Effects of Being Negative - Today, keep track of each negative thought that you have. For recurring negative thoughts, make a mark in the tally column to keep track of how many times you experience it.

Change Your Thoughts - What is some evidence that what you are telling yourself is not true?

Practice Being Positive - We put you in different situations and ask you to work your way out of them.

Your Insides - Search yourself right now to see what you are thinking about.

Positivity Page - Complete each sentence. Keep this paper with you and refer to it throughout the day whenever you need to reframe and/or overcome a negative thought.

Spin It - Search yourself for the things that make you feel better.

Reframing - For this exercise, think about a situation that you are struggling with right now. Then follow the reframing strategies to shift your thinking in a positive direction.

Reprogram - In the table below, list some situations that typically cause you stress and trigger negative thoughts. In the second column, write down one or two new thoughts that you can think in each situation to help you cope with the stress.

Naming - For each negative word or phrase, think of a positive word or phrase to replace it. For 5 through 10, add your own negative words and replace them.

What Are the Advantages of Positive and Negative Self Talk?

Have you ever talked to yourself? Talking to yourself might sound weird, but it comes with a lot of benefits for your personality. The way you speak to yourself affects your daily life. It also has a major impact on your physical and mental well-being. To sum up, self-talk is truly life changing.

What is Self Talk?


Self-talk is your inner dialogue, the way you communicate with yourself. It is determined by the beliefs, thoughts, questions, and ideas stored in your subconscious mind. Remember, the voice in your head can be both positive and negative.


Some people focus more on the positive aspects of a situation and leverage their strengths. Others have a negative approach in life. It all depends on an individual's personality and outlook in life. Both types of self-talk have their own benefits.

 

Benefits of Positive Self-Talk

 


1. Helps You Manage Stress Effectively - Positivity automatically reduces your stress levels. Talking to yourself positively helps you remain calm during tough situations and figure out possible solutions quickly. It stops you from being too hard on yourself and beating yourself over past mistakes.


2. Increases Your Confidence - Positive self-talk can be a life savior for people who keep on doubting their capabilities. People say that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself. So, remind yourself about your strengths and achievements constantly until you feel confident enough to take on new challenges.


3. Improves Your Relationships - Positive self-talk has a huge impact on your ability to develop and maintain relationships. How? Firstly, having a positive outlook towards yourself helps you see the good in others too. Also, it encourages you to approach others with confidence. Moreover, an optimistic attitude also makes your personality impressive.


4. Maintains Your Physical Health - The roots of most physical problems lie in our minds. Positive self-talk kicks off stress and anxiety, clearing up your thoughts. You are less likely to fall ill physically when you are at peace with your mind. There are numerous physical health benefits related to positive self-talk, like increased life span, enhanced cardiovascular health, and improved immunity.


Benefits of Negative Self-Talk


1. Improves Your Performance - Healthy self-criticism allows you to focus on the areas where you can improve. People who focus too much on their strengths often fail to see where they lack. Therefore, it is useful to question yourself once in a while. With negative self-talk, you can push yourself to perform better.


2. Prepares You for Hardship - Life is not always gold and glitter. Being too positive might make you blind to potential challenges in the future. Looking at life from a negative perspective allows you to predict unforeseen problems and prepare for them timely.


3. Encourages Creativity - Positive self-talk often means you crush your curiosity and doubts. This stifles your ability to create different approaches to solve the problem. On the other hand, viewing your performance critically can help you come up with more creative ways to do the job.