If you are not someone who struggles with negative inner dialogue, then this post may not be for you. However, I have other posts that you can enjoy. Additionally, I will be referencing the movie Soul. If you plan on watching it and want to avoid spoilers, consider revisiting this post after you’ve seen the film.
To my sweet spirits who wrestle with negative thoughts and are searching for a way to break the cycle, this post is for you. It’s important to note that breaking free from negative inner dialogue is not a simple three-step process—it requires consistent effort and practice.
Today, while working out, my thoughts began to get the best of me. By the end of the workout, I felt tears streaming down my face. I stepped out onto my back porch to cool off and get some air before taking a shower, but I could feel myself spiraling deeper into negative thoughts. As I reached over to pick something up, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye that startled me. I quickly realized it was just my shadow and then I said to myself, “Oh that is my shadow.” I then heard within myself, yes, your own shadow is becoming your biggest enemy, as I thought of a scene from the movie Soul.
For many, Soul is a beautiful movie with a heartfelt message. However, for me, it hit deeply on a personal level. Because of this, I may reference various scenes in future posts as they feel so relevant to my current reflections.
One scene, in particular, stayed with me. A newly formed soul experienced the joys of life and its simple beauty but had to return to the Great Before for reasons explained in the film. The person who accompanied her was also sent back, missing out on a significant opportunity. Angry and frustrated, he blamed the new soul, exchanging harsh words with her. Sidenote – I’m sure there is a lesson in that statement alone concerning who you allow on your journey with you but that isn’t what I want to talk about in this post.
The next time we see the new soul, it had transformed into a lost soul—a giant, dark, angry blob. Within this lost soul, there was a whirlwind of emotions and shadows from the past. The new soul repeatedly said they weren’t worthy and had no purpose. These statements were fueled by the harsh words others had said, including those from the person who had blamed them. Interestingly, the new soul had added even crueler words, like “idiot” and “dumb,” to what had actually been said.
The person who had hurt the new soul eventually realized their mistake. They sought out the lost soul and gave them a small object—a reminder of the simple, beautiful moments of life the new soul had experienced. This gesture caused the whirlwind to die down and dissipate. The lost soul’s dark form melted away, and they were reminded of the beauty and simplicity of life. They returned to a safe, calm place where the pain of past words and intrusive thoughts could no longer reach them.
This scene resonated deeply with me. When I recognized my shadow as the source of my startle, I immediately visualized that whirlwind from the movie. I realized that I, too, was trapped in a storm of negative thoughts. I told myself: You need to get out of this whirlwind and come back to the now.
I took a deep breath as I asked myself to be here. I focused on what I could feel and hear—the brightness and warmth of the sun, the crisp chill in the air, the sound of cars passing by. Slowly, I felt calm returning. In the present, I felt safe—a place where my negative thoughts no longer had power because they belonged to the past or the future, not the here and now.
I began to focus on the positive sensations around me and told myself, Stay here. Be here. This is where you can process life, piece by piece, without becoming overwhelmed. This is where you can find joy in the simplest things.
Celebrate your small victories. Support yourself through every step. Here is where you can comfort yourself, handle life’s challenges bit by bit, and find beauty in life’s simplicity. Again I gently told myself, “Be Here”.
That scene from Soul has become my mental call-back—my way of breaking the cycle of negative inner dialogue. When I feel myself slipping into that whirlwind of self-doubt and negativity, I use it as a reminder to return to a peaceful place in the present.
We all face challenges, but I promise it’s easier to be present and take things step by step than to dwell on what you can’t control. Don’t let the whirlwind consume you. Be here, as often as you can, until it becomes the place you naturally want to be.
Love you lots!
-Sacred
Finally Loving Life 
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