A powerful video that is sending an important reminder that we all need to be kinder to ourselves. Kids are always listening!

The video highlights to mother’s in particular that how you speak to yourself is how your little mini-me will often feel about themselves as well. It has attracted over 13 million views.

What your child hears when you criticize yourself.

Many of us parents are often guilty of saying things like,

“I could never wear a dress without spanx.”

“My nose looks so ugly.”

“I’m so bad! I ate a cupcake today.”

“My diet starts tomorrow.”

“Nobody will like me.”

“I need to lose weight.”

But our children want us to know that we are so wrong. The video below talks about what the children wish their mum knew….

“You’re beautiful, even if you don’t think so.”

“You’re beautiful inside and out, it doesn’t matter what you look like.”

“There’s no such thing as ugly or fat. Everybody’s beautiful.”

Be kind to yourself. Your children are listening!

I am occasionally guilty of the negative self talk. Just little things when I make a silly mistake or forget to do something.

It can be so easy to fall into that trap when we are tired or super busy.

An interesting post on Huffington shares 9 Ways To Silence Your Inner Critic. Psychologist Tamar E. Chansky, PhD, author of Freeing Yourself From Anxiety, shares some great advice.

You can do little things like…

1. Put Negative Stuff In A Box

Seeing a tiny box in your mind shows the actual size of the problem and helps you feel more confident that you can take it on.

2. Try The Power Of Possible Thinking

Possible thinking involves reaching for neutral thoughts about the situation and naming the facts.

“I’m a fat cow” becomes “I’d like to lose 10 pounds. I know how to do it.” The facts give you a lot more choices and directions you can go in.

3. Ask Yourself If You’re Really So Guilty

Make the choice to be kind to yourself by questioning your initial thoughts, which is key to slowing down that annoying little voice.

4. Put A Better Spin On Things

Instead of telling yourself, “I’m so disorganized, I’ll never get anything done,” train yourself to say, “I’m having a thought that I’m not going to get it done.”

5. Ask: What Would My Best Friend Say?

If you wouldn’t say it to your friend, don’t say it to yourself.

6. Give Your Inner Critic A Name

It’s hard to take that inner voice seriously when you call it The Nag.

7. Give Your Rants A Name, Too

8. Pick Up The Phone

Find the courage to do the counterintuitive thing and tell someone what happened — invariably those conversations end with laughter.

9. Embrace Your Imperfections

It’s enormously freeing to stop holding yourself to insanely high standards.

Make sure you try at least ONE of these tips next time you get sassy with yourself.

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