Hopeful self-talk

Here are some common perspectives that offer people hope along with self-talk that reinforces that perspective.

I desire happiness. In my words and actions, I’m striving towards peace, health and happiness. I’m striving towards physical health, including consistent energy, flexibility, and mobility. I’m striving towards mental health, including awareness, curiosity, and connection. I want to enjoy learning and growing, enjoy affection and intimacy, and enjoy my journey towards happiness. I want to live a life free from emotional distress, where I am able to recognize and manage my emotions, I am able to take care of my body, and I am able to show up to my relationships in the present moment and with affection. I don’t want to be controlled by who I think I should be and what I think I have to do.

Everything changes. I’ll never have a thought, feeling, or sensation that doesn’t change. My circumstances will always change and I have no idea how good my life may become.

Who I am matters. I am not responsible for the actions of other people but how I choose to show up in the world has real consequences for other people. I want to be at peace with myself and others throughout my life and wiser as I grow older.

I am loved. My family, my friends, my neighbors and those in my community, my colleagues, my treatment team, my support people show up when I ask for help. I’m not alone in my suffering, even if I alone bear it.

I am complex. I can be a highly intelligent, compassionate, hard-working, and innovative person who also struggles with anxiety sensitivity, depression, obsessiveness or other attributes that causes me distress.

Life is mysterious. I can’t control nor perfect my consciousness. There are forces working on me and in me that I am unaware of and I’ll never have full awareness. Rather than trying to control and perfect my consciousness, I can be humble before the mystery of human life, and enjoy my exploration of it.