The worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves. The worst verbal abuse comes from our own tongue. The most negative influence is the devil on our own shoulder. The cruelest judge is the one staring back in the mirror. The person really withholding the love you need is you. No one will ever out-do you at playing mind-games. You must stop doing this to yourself! The universe is calling you to heal, not to agonize over your mistakes. Quit overthinking; this is what surrendering really means. Don’t focus on negativity and don’t even obsess about “fixing” things or yourself. Don’t force “positive thinking.” These things can be psychological irritants. Just leave yourself alone! When you pick at things they never heal. Just relax and give yourself some time.

Remember that you are the angel of your own life. Look past your ugly thinking; your fears, mistakes, worries, and doubts. Your struggles seem to be external, but we are always destroyed from the inside out. The way you transcend your challenges is by listening to the inner-guide within you. Your good judgment, your discernment, your kind thoughts and your own loving heart — in service of your highest good — is the angel you have been looking for to deliver you. The moment you accept your own beauty and power is the moment your deliverance begins.

“Life moves on, whether we act as cowards or heroes. Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy, and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.” — Henry Miller

The way to begin to truly see beauty in yourself is to begin to see beauty in all of life, and to realize you are connected to life, and that you are a part of life’s great beauty. Believing in your inner beauty as a wondrous and unique being will begin to shift your perspectives about the world from cynicism to reverence. If you cannot immediately change your external circumstances, start with your words. We are all constructed out of our self-dialogue. Start with your inner voice. Your inner dialogue has a profound impact on your life. Make sure your ritual is not a daily prayer for failure through negative self-talk, ruminations, and gossip. Understand and challenge your narrative. Narratives become choices and actions — which become your life. Choose thoughts that give you the emotions of feeling alive and excited about life. Make a truce with your inner voice and speak ever so kindly and respectfully of yourself. What you talk about you anchor yourself to, so if you want to change your life — change your dialogue. Making peace with your negative inner voice is like making peace with a great enemy. Your inner voice can become a protector and champion of your life. You give life to your problems with your words. If you want to change, then begin to use your words to give life to solutions. Your struggle is your strength. If you can resist becoming negative, bitter, or hopeless, in time, your struggle will give you everything!