I learned this strategy when I was 18. My mom was in the hospital being diagnosed with morbid obesity, COPD, and congestive heart failure. All my life she’d been too afraid to go to doctors or take any prescription medications despite chronic high blood pressure. It had finally caught up with her.

She was a hoarder, and I knew the first thing that would happen before the hospital sent her home would be sending a social worker to inspect the house. They were already trying to get her to go into a nursing home for rehab. 

My great-grandmother was in a poorly attended nursing home right before she passed away, and Mama was terrified of living out a horror story like great-grandma’s. I was determined to bring her home so she wouldn’t have to go through that.

As a result, I spent every day cleaning the house. I got rid of the stacks of mail and boxes of rotted canned goods and drinks, scrubbed the leaks off the floor and cleaned up mold. I went to work in the evenings and paid our bills in between. The stress was killer, and I quickly realized I didn’t have the time to be plagued by self-doubt or succumb to depression. I had to throw every hour and every ounce of my energy into the task at hand – keeping us afloat.

I don’t know what got me started – most likely an idea from God to help me – but it became a natural reaction for me to speak affirmations and encouragement aloud to myself while driving around in the car.

“I am good enough.” “I am doing a good job.” “I am doing the best that I can.” Just a quick one-liner each time.

The first time I did it, on a day when my thoughts were particularly noisy, imagine my surprise when I found that the barrage of negativity instantly ceased. Oh sure, it came back later. But then I just did it again! It worked like a charm every time. I began to apply this helpful technique  wherever and whenever I needed it. 

At home? Speak aloud if no one was around, and later after Mama came home, go to my room or into the yard.

At work? Go into the bathroom and whisper the words to myself.

I found it didn’t matter how loudly or softly I spoke as long as I vocalized an opposite positive affirmation to my thoughts of self-doubt and fear. 

At 38, this is a technique I still use. All these years later, it is still just as effective. When I started seeing a therapist in my 20’s, she confirmed that this is a helpful technique. There’s something about speaking aloud that overrides your thought patterns. I don’t understand all about that, but I do know from experience that it works!

Do you struggle with negative thoughts to stop you from doing what you need to do and enjoying your life? I encourage you to try this technique. You might feel a little strange at first, but it is totally worth it for the relief you’ll receive.

*Please note: I’m not a therapist. Everything I write comes from my own personal experience in an effort to help others who have similar struggles