Adults and teenagers are supported to recognise unhelpful inner criticism and respond to it with more kindness and balance. The poster explains that the way a person speaks to themselves can affect how they feel, and notes that harsh self-talk can reduce confidence and make difficult moments feel worse.
The main section uses a clear “Try this” format with short prompts. It encourages the reader to notice their inner voice, ask whether they would speak that way to someone they care about, challenge overly critical thoughts, replace harsh words with more balanced ones, and remember that everyone struggles sometimes.
A gentle reminder near the end reinforces that people do not have to believe every negative thought. The poster also includes a supportive message to speak to someone trusted if things feel too much, making it suitable for mental health and wellbeing displays, therapy rooms, pastoral spaces, social work visits, mentoring sessions, and home use.
The warm illustration, including phrases such as “Kind speech only” and “Be kind to yourself”, makes the message accessible without feeling clinical. Counsellors, social workers, school pastoral staff, youth workers, parents, carers, and wellbeing practitioners could use it as a quick conversation starter with teens or adults who struggle with self-criticism, low confidence, anxiety, or difficult emotions. Created by Edita Stiborova.
