Everyone has faced criticism at some point, and those words can be incredibly disheartening. Some people might brush it off, showing resilience, while others may dwell on the negativity, allowing it to sink them into despair. This often leads to feelings of defeat and the belief that we are incapable of doing anything right. A solution to this is to engage in positive self-talk.

Why should we practice positive self-talk? Psychology suggests that expressing our discomfort to others, who can then offer solutions, encouragement, or comfort, can improve our mood. Imagine if, over the course of a month, we had to endure negative comments from our boss and colleagues for 20 days, while our close friend had to listen to our complaints 20 times. Do you think they would be happy to repeatedly hear our negative experiences?

You might have said, “I’m so tired,” but did you know we can transform that into three positive statements? For instance, saying “I’ve done my best,” can uplift your spirits. How about “Let’s make this happen!” as if we are casting away negativity? Or another option could be “I think I might have too much lactic acid built up,” which is bound to make you chuckle. Laughter can alleviate stress, so let’s replace discouraging words with those that inspire us to keep fighting.