Sometimes you do things that you know aren't good for you, when you actually want to make better choices. This can cause an uncomfortable feeling called cognitive dissonance. It means you don't feel comfortable when what you're doing doesn't match what you actually want. It's one of the things that makes change so difficult. How do you deal with that?
Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon where a person's thoughts or beliefs do not match his or her behavior. I see this frequently in introverts with a negative self-image, because their thoughts and beliefs contradict their wishes and goals.
People act based on how they see themselves. For example, if you see yourself as someone who is unhealthy, you tend to make choices that fit that. This makes it more difficult to learn new behavior if your self-image does not match it. As a result, people often choose what they already did instead of change.
Introverts are more withdrawn and reserved by nature, which can be seen by others as a sign of insecurity or lack of self-confidence. If the introvert then also starts to believe that something is wrong, this can lead to a negative self-image. The person will act accordingly, for example by being very critical of him- or herself.
Accept
There are a number of things you can do to get rid of this cognitive dissonance. An important step is to acknowledge and accept your feelings and beliefs, without criticizing or judging yourself. It can also be helpful to work on increasing your confidence and self-acceptance by focusing on your strengths and achievements.
In addition, it can help to work on changing your beliefs and thoughts through positive affirmations and self-reflection. It is important to be aware of the thoughts and beliefs that cause cognitive dissonance and to work on replacing negative thoughts with positive and more helpful beliefs.
Cognitive dissonance is something that is very common, but that you can do something about. It's something I can help you with in a coaching journey. By being aware of your thoughts and beliefs and working on increasing your self-confidence and self-acceptance, you can ultimately develop a more positive and healthy self-image.
Would you like to discuss this further? Feel free to contact me.
