Self-Talk for Self-Care
An exhausted parent once told me she was doing everything right: a high-quality diet, sleep hygiene, supplements, and daily exercise. Yet, she was exhausted and irritable. In our sessions, we uncovered why: she was using P.E.T. communication roadblocks — not on her kids, but herself!
Her quality of thoughts draining her energy and straining her relationships. How can we rewrite the script?
- Notice your thoughts: Are they serving or sabotaging you and your relationships?
- Practice self-kindness: Talk to yourself like you would a struggling loved one.
- Use P.E.T. skills on yourself: swap communication roadblocks like blame, criticism, judgement and moralising for active listening to your own needs, acceptance without judgement, and “I’ statements for self-awareness and subsequent action.
What comes to our mind fuels our actions. When a parent thinks, “Why can’t I handle this? I’m so useless,” that’s self-criticism—a classic roadblock turned inward. But when they shift to, ‘This is really hard right now. What do I need?’ they create space for compassion, clarity, and choices that heal—not hurt—themselves and their relationships.
What’s one roadblock you’ll swap out today?
#InternationalSelfCareDay2025 #InnerCritic #EmotionalHealth #ParentingCoach #ParentEffectivenessTraining
