Elizabeth Scott, PhD, is a wellness coach, health educator, and author of 8 Keys to Stress Management
Celebrate Positivity
By Facing & Erasing Self-Negativity
Dr. Elizabeth Scott, PhD / Author, etc.
Our nation is facing a significant public health threat. Feelings of anxiety and depression have grown to an all-time high. A CNN/Kaiser Family Foundation poll put a number to it: 90% of Americans feel we are in a mental health crisis.1
Dr. Elizabeth Scott, the National Alliance for Mental Illness, the nation’s leading mental health organization, and Pilot Pen are partnering to help individuals take meaningful steps to help decrease stress and improve their emotional well-being. Together we will be creating and providing valuable information and establishing the Erase Self-Negativity program and resources.
Put a Day for Positivity on Your Calendar
Then, on April 10th, everyone is invited to share in a celebration of positivity with the first ever Erase Self-Negativity Day.
Erase Self-Negativity Day is a day where we focus on creating space for positivity by providing tools to help change the self-negativity habit.
On Erase Self-Negativity Day, and on the 10th of every month, we will focus on helping individuals face and erase the damaging words and phrases that encapsulate their negative self-talk. These are the words that can hinder our forward progress and damage our confidence, words that, if left unchecked, could potentially lead to mental health issues.
Erase Self-Negativity Day will help everyone that participates take a big, empowering step toward erasing the influence these negative words have on their lives and creating a true place for positivity going forward.
1. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/trend/archive/fall-2023/americas-mental-health-crisis
What is Self-Negativity?
Speaking negatively to ourselves is a habit. And habits can be changed.
Each of us has a critical inner voice. Sometimes this voice can be motivating, but frequently it does more harm than good. Many of us can become trapped in a cycle of negative self-talk and self-negativity, with one critical thought leading to the next.
Self-negativity can take many forms and have highly damaging results.
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It can range from the reasonable: "I'm not good at this, so I should avoid attempting it for my own personal safety," to the extremely cruel: "I never do anything right!"
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It may start out as a realistic appraisal of a situation: "I got a C on this test. I guess I'm not good at math," but it can quickly turn into a damaging negative cascade: "I'll never be able to go to a good college" or “I will have a terrible life."
According to Dr. Scott, negative self-talk can lead to increased levels of anxiety and stress, and can negatively impact relationships, which can affect our coping resources. So, awareness is key. First noticing our self-negativity and then taking the right steps to alter our behavior and habits can have very beneficial effects.
How Can I Begin to Erase
My Self-Negativity?
Dr. Scott and NAMI have created this guided exercise to help you begin your journey toward erasing the disempowering influence that self-negativity has on your life and in helping you build a structure and place for positivity. First, you need to identify the primary, negative self-talk words that you play over and over again in your mind. Then you will take the necessary steps to actively embrace the power you have to change this negative and damaging habit.
You will need: (1) A quiet, restful location, (2) A desire to create change, and (3) Paper and a FriXion erasable pen. Once you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s time to take a deep breath, relax your body and mind, download the Erase Self-Negativity Worksheet, and follow the instructions in the video below.
Guided Exercise With Dr. Scott
Your Erase Self-Negativity Worksheet
More valuable Resources
from the Experts
The first step in improving your mental health and erasing self-negativity is understanding that you are not alone. Millions of Americans are affected by mental illness each year, and the vast majority of them benefit greatly from self-help exercises, counseling, and treatment.
View and listen to the videos and podcast below to understand just how common, and treatable, mental health issues including self-negativity can be. They will help you determine where you stand today and help inspire you toward a better tomorrow.
Self Care University: Drama Therapy -
Managing Your Mental Health
Self Care University: Sound Therapy -
Managing Your Mental Health
Self Care University: Animal Therapy -
Managing Your Mental Health
Hope Starts With Us Podcast
On this first episode of the year, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with international motivational speaker, certified life coach and best selling author Steven Anthony King about how we can harness the power of purpose, positivity and perseverance to manifest healing in 2024.
Listen NowIn Need of Immediate Help or Support?
NAMI is There for You
You are not alone! If you are struggling with your mental health, the NAMI HelpLine is here for you. Connect with a NAMI HelpLine volunteer today.
Available Monday Through Friday, 10 A.M. – 10 P.M., ET.
Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text "HelpLine" to 62640 , email NAMI at [email protected] or visit nami.org/findsupport to find one of 600 NAMI locations near you today.
Help Spread Positivity
Supported By Frixion Erasable Pens
Pilot and the FriXion family of pens is thrilled to be partnering with Mental Health experts in supporting this important initiative. The Erase Self-Negativity program is designed to help individuals take meaningful steps toward decreasing stress and improving their emotional well-being.
Only FriXion erasable pens write smoothly and erase cleanly in a wide array of stunning colors, so they are ideal for mistake-free, stress-free writing and for the Erase Self-Negativity exercises.
