Sh*t I Say to Myself: 40 Ways to Ditch the Negative Self-Talk That’s Dragging You Down

Psychotherapist Krimer (The Essential Self-Compassion Workbook for Teens) provides an affable manual for quieting one’s inner critic. “You must acknowledge the harm you’re doing to your sense of self and take accountability for the choices in language that you make,” the author counsels, urging readers to combat their “shitty self-talk” with mindfulness and journaling. Exploring the evolutionary mechanism behind negative thinking, Krimer suggests that humans who were more sensitive to negative stimuli—such as fear of rustling noises in the woods—were more likely to survive long enough to procreate. To deal with the feeling that “I can never be in the moment,” she recommends practicing mindfulness and noticing thought patterns so that one can better recognize “when our thoughts rekindle negative emotions.” She also offers self-reflective journaling exercises that include devising counterarguments to negative thoughts by considering such questions as “What story does this thought uphold?” and “Why am I so quick to agree with this thought?” Krimer’s tone is that of a good friend (“Changing habits of the mind is fucking hard”) and readers will appreciate the straightforward advice. Approachable and wise, this plucky volume is worth a look. (Aug.)