So often in my work, I meet people living with profound depression and crippling anxiety. One of the things I frequently hear in people living with these diseases is negative self-talk. What would happen if instead of beating ourselves up for living with mental illness, substance use, trauma or eating disorders, we started speaking kindly to ourselves? What would happen if we simply loved ourselves?

What if instead of berating ourselves for being stricken with mental illness, we reminded ourselves how strong we are? What if instead of saying nasty things to ourselves about dealing with anxiety, we reminded ourselves that we are warriors? What if instead of berating ourselves for living with substance use disorders, we reminded ourselves that we live with a disease? What if instead of saying we will be happy when we lose 10 pounds, we tell ourselves that we deserve to be happy right now exactly as we are? What if instead of blaming ourselves for being the victim of trauma, we reminded ourselves that we are stronger than we think?

There are scores of positive things we could say to ourselves on a daily basis to turn our thinking around. It may sound silly, but we can practice saying kind and loving things to ourselves when we are getting ready for the day. Just look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you are lovable. There are other things you can say to yourself. Some are below:

• I am beautiful.

• I am smart.

• I am blessed with talents that I love.

• I deserve to achieve my dreams.

• I am worthy of love and belonging.

• I am worthy of respect simply for being human.

• I am strong.

• I am a fighter.

• My features are beautiful.

• I believe in my abilities.

• I am unstoppable.

The more you say these things to yourself, the more you will come to believe them. When you have belittled yourself with negative self-talk for years, changing your vernacular to positive self-talk can feel foreign and forced. Practice saying kind things to yourself and you will start to see that wonderful person that you truly are. More likely than not, no one is more cruel to you than you. Is it not time to start treating yourself with the kindness you afford others? Do you not deserve your own love?