Positive self-talk is everything and how we speak to ourselves is important. We all have an inner voice—often it’s more critical and speaks in a way we would never speak to anyone else. But now more than ever we would all benefit from being our own BFF.

Let’s be real . . . this is challenging. Staying positive is not always easy. Although some days living a stay-home, no-pants life feels like the best life, other days are hard and staying in bed seems like the only viable option. Our inner voice can either lift us up or kick our butt.

So, if the tough days are more than the good ones, you’re not alone. This lack of normalcy triggers a lot of things we weren’t expecting to handle. But—little by little, breath by breath—we can handle it.

Take some of the attention off of your turmoil for a moment and ask yourself “What would I say to my best friend?” Be the friend that you need, speak to yourself with kindness, and treat yourself well. Positive self-talk is self-care. Honour yourself. If your best friend was down, you’d most likely go out of your way to be there for them. Put yourself at the top of your list and prioritize your needs.

You don’t have to believe every thought you think, especially the negative ones. Take your thoughts as you would any advice, with a grain of salt. Journaling your process helps sort through what's going on in the moment. When your head is clearer, you can give yourself the advice that you need to hear at that moment. It could be as simple—yet as powerful—as “Stop talking to yourself like that.” Don’t be too hard on yourself, okay boo?

We can power through whatever we face by empowering ourselves. Give yourself a “You’ve got this” or “I’m proud of you.” We all need that voice that speaks up when we’re feeling lost. Our inner voices are the ones we need to hear the most to push ourselves into a new space.

This is a practice. May we all learn to speak to ourselves with kindness and love ourselves like we love our BFFs. Give yourself a big hug today. My BFF words for you are “You’re a total warrior-goddess, badass-babe.” May you be full of love wherever you are. Feel free to drop your favourite self-talk tips in the comments below. You know we’d love to hear from you.

Written By Jade Paxton for FRANC