Is there a bully in your mind?
I just can't…
I am just not meant to…
I can never…
Do these thoughts or some version of them spin in your head on the daily?
Do you feel like there is a bully in your head? Do you want to focus on the positive?
Yeah, me too. This bully is also known as a "limiting belief." It is those thoughts that get in the way of what you want. It is also super exhausting trying to get that bully to shush.
There are ways to stop negative thoughts, but it takes work and commitment.
First, you need to recognize the limiting belief. Then stop judging it; once you acknowledge that it is a limiting belief, its grip on you begins to loosen. You can then replace the negative thought or limiting belief with an affirmation.
Affirmations are a great tool to help you transform your limiting beliefs and mindfully navigate infertility and life after infertility. When I started using affirmations, I was in my early twenties. I used affirmations and hard work to design the life I wanted. I wrote them on Post-its all over the house and referred to them often while washing the dishes or drying my hair. When my negative thoughts were bullying me, I would catch myself and replace that thought with a positive affirmation. I still use affirmations daily and find that it helps me to feel more connected and focused on the good instead of dwelling on the bad.
After navigating fertility treatments for several years, it is easy to get caught up in the failure of so many cycles. Having affirmations helps me to focus my mind on something more positive. Some of my favorite affirmations are "All is well." "I love and approve of myself." and "This is all working out for me." I use affirmations as a mantra when I am meditating. I sit quietly and repeat the mantra, which helps me to focus and become more connected to the meaning of the mantra. I write them down. Seeing them written out on paper helps me visually relate to the meaning.
After years of practice, it is still difficult to quiet the negative talk, but I now can recognize when this "bully" is trying to hold me back and let it go.
