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What would other people think if you were to actually speak aloud the thoughts that go through your head about yourself? Would they believe that you value and respect yourself? Many times, we put ourselves down and are harder on ourselves than we would ever be towards others. It is now the time to put an end to negative self-talk- not so that we become arrogant or self-centered, but so that we can experience more freedom, self-confidence and joy as children of God.

The way we think governs the way we act: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he;" Proverbs 23:7. Therefore, if we believe terrible lies about ourselves, it leads to our being miserable and discouraged. Our thoughts can prevent us from walking around with our heads held high with confidence, knowing that each of us has been uniquely designed with certain talents, skills, and beauty. So, how do we stop these thoughts from robbing us of the freedom to enjoy life?

The first step is to catch yourself each and every time you make a negative comment about yourself. Of course, we all sometimes do make mistakes and should be growing and learning from them. However, if we constantly tell ourselves that we are worthless, unattractive, or stupid, for example, we are allowing Satan to reign over us because God would never want us as His children to believe these lies. He loves us and wants us to be free to love ourselves and other people, as well.

Practicing self-awareness will reveal those negative thoughts that keep us in bondage. We then have several choices about how to handle them. One way to break this internal dialogue is to practice thought-stopping. This is when we consciously take control of our thoughts and stop them in their tracks and absolutely refuse to allow them any space in our minds. Our response could be, I recognize this is a lie, and I do not believe it, or This is the enemy's voice, not my Creator's, and I will not listen. By the way, this is a good way to manage anxiety and worries, as well.

Another good method to end the unwanted internal dialogue is to actually write your thoughts down, even if it is painful to actually see the words on paper. For every lie or negative self-statement you think, write down a replacement thought or goal. For example, we are frequently very hard on ourselves and are often guilty of negative internal dialogue when we look into the mirror or during mealtimes. When looking in the mirror, refuse to call yourself overweight, or disgusting. Instead, find

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