Of negative self-talk, Nancy Lamb wrote "[T]ake a deep breath and tell that double-dealing, undermining, life-negating, confidence-stealing dominatrix to shut her mouth, back off your personal stage, and stay in the basement where she belongs." (p.66, The Art and Craft of Storytelling).
She goes on to add, however, 'that this gem of wisdom...falls into that familiar but slippery category labeled Easier Said Than Done'...
'The reason our internal voice has gotten away with its negative nonsense for so long is that we haven't paid attention to it...at least consciously. ...
When you hear the voices, learn to identify the feelings that accompany them. Once you've got a handle on what the feelings are, allow yourself to experience them fully--both physically and emotionally--then let them go. ...
Every time you hear the voice, acknowledge its presence but not its power. Remind yourself that this is a voice, not a reality. It no longer speaks to you with authority. ...
They're accustomed to being able to speak undisturbed. The mere fact that you bring the voices into your awareness is enough to diminish some of their power.
Once you've become aware of the messages, you can begin to replace them with more positive words.'
For example, here's what I hear, Cherish my unique author voice. Claim a story that has never been told. Tell it well.
