Fill in the gaps and click “Check.” Use “Hint” or “[?]” for help—but you’ll lose points!
Bridget Jones is not alone in turning self-help mantras to boost her spirits, but a study warns they may have the effect.
Canadian researchers found those with low self-esteem felt worse repeating positive phrases such “I am a lovable person” which only helped people with high self-esteem.
A UK psychologist said people based their feelings about on real-life experience.
The suggestion people should “help themselves” to feel better was first mooted Victorian Samuel Smiles 150 years .
“ Repeating positive self-statements may help those with high self-esteem but backfire the very people who need them the most ”
His book, called simply “Self Help”, sold a quarter a million copies promoted the phrase: “Heaven helps who help themselves”.
Self-help is now a multi- pound industry.
The researchers, from University of Waterloo, asked people with high and self-esteem to say “I am lovable person.”
They then measured the participants’ moods and their feelings themselves.
Those who repeated the mantra felt worse afterwards compared with others who did .
However people with high self-esteem better after repeating the positive self-statement – but only slightly.
Lead researcher Joanne Wood concluded that positive self-statements may help people with self-esteem, but can backfire for those who need them most.”