Are you aware your conscience affects your mental health? That niggling voice in your head, much like Pinocchio's friend Jiminy Cricket, gives you feedback on the morality of your actions and thoughts. If you feel sorry because you did or didn't do something, you can be sure your conscience is in charge of triggering your guilt. Your inner Jiminy can be useful, but, at times that judgmental cricket chirping away makes you stressed without doing you any good.

Why your conscience works overtime

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Of course, you haven't got any hang-ups, but we'll imagine you have for a moment. If you fear the possibility of being rejected, when you word well-meaning advice to a friend in an unfortunate way or forget to phone your mother, your internal cricket will get to work.

"You've misbehaved and are unlikely to be forgiven. You're selfish." Such comments will repeatedly be issued by your voice within. Far from being useful, your conscience will put you under pressure. Nonetheless, such guilt-ridden chirps are your cricket's way of trying to keep you on track toward the goal of not being abandoned.

Your conscience works overtime, attempting to make you clean up your act when you don't behave in a way that's aligned with your aims. If you want to be liked, but conduct yourself in a way you deem unlikable, your conscience will prompt your mind to send distressing thoughts until you take action.

How to calm your conscience

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Sometimes, your conscience may be right to urge you to apologize for an unthoughtful comment or action, and its guidance is beneficial. At other times, its incessant chirps echo your low self-esteem, in which case, you need to build self-approval.

When your conscience makes you anxious, consider whether you're blowing a situation out of proportion. In the scenario mentioned, for instance, your friend might have found your advice helpful or forgotten about the incident. Likewise, your mother probably won't mind you forgetting to phone. You could quickly allay your fears by talking to your pal about the matter or making a swift call.

There will also be occasions when you know your mind is exaggerating problems and serving up reasons to feel bad on autopilot. To calm the non-stop comments and soothe your inner cricket, explain everything is alright and the chirping will cease.

You can pacify your conscience when you recognize why it speaks. If it wants you to avoid abandonment, tell it there's no chance of you being rejected and thank it for trying to protect you. You could also work on your self-esteem. Surrounding yourself with people who support and approve of you, and repeating positive affirmations to alter the way you think will boost confidence.

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