How To Stop Negative Thinking
Negative thinking is almost inevitable for every human being. In fact, it is a common problem that affects most of us, whether we know it or not. Negative thinking may disrupt your self-image and cause you to miss out on the good things in life.
It can also result in stress, anxiety, and even depression in some people. If you are one of them, you have probably searched for ways on how to stop negative thinking.
Thankfully, there is a list of things that you can do to stop negative things from entering your mind. Let us get started!
List Down Every Negative Thought
While this may not seem practical to everyone, taking the time to list every negative thought does the trick. Write about your losses, fears, insecurities, as well as things that make you angry. You can do this exercise on a piece of paper, and then toss it in the trash.
According to a study done at Ohio State University, individuals who journaled nagging and negative thoughts on a piece of paper and tossed it in the trash later reported feelings of positivity on their self-image. You can as well accomplish this task on how to stop bad thoughts in your head on your computer.
Hang Around Positive People
Wondering why negative thoughts come to mind? Well, in some instances, negative thoughts can be caused by our surroundings and the people that we hang out with. It is true that you become what you associate with.
Associating yourself with negative people will contribute to you having negative thoughts. If you want to put an end to negative thoughts entering your mind, then it is only right that you associate with positive individuals, who tend to look at life situations in an optimistic manner. If you cannot avoid negative people altogether, just become aware of their negativity and do not allow it to get to you.
Positive Affirmations
This is another trick for how to stop negative thoughts and anxiety. Make it a practice to say positive affirmations each time a negative thought clouds your mind. This will not only reshape your thinking but also make you feel good about yourself. For instance, if you are looking for love and you start having thoughts about how unlovable you are, you can make affirmations like, “I am lovable and valuable.”
Speak to the Thought
Sounds funny, right? However, saying “stop” out aloud each time a negative thought creeps in your mind is one of the effective ways to stop it altogether. Thought stopping will help you avoid negative thoughts, so you do not load your mind with dozens of them. If you are not able to shout out loud at the thought, try saying it in your head. It is just as effective.
Besides, individuals who find images to be more powerful than words can take advantage of their imagination. For example, you can think about a red stop sign each time you notice negative thoughts are taking over your mind.
Take a Deep Breath
Breathing is another effective tip on how to stop negative thoughts from entering your mind. Breathing will calm you down and make you more aware of yourself and the surrounding. It will also enable you to notice the negative thoughts so that you are not caught up in them. Add it to your routine of exercises to stop negative thinking and you will be surprised at what it can do.
Distract your Mind
There are several ways that one can distract their mind from negative thoughts, especially if they are caused by feelings of loneliness. Try shifting your focus to things that give you joy and bring out your positive side. This will go a long way in helping you maintain positive thoughts.
For instance, if you love shopping, now will be an excellent time to head out to the store. If you cannot, try visualizing yourself in one and this will help take your brain in a different direction. Alternatively, you pull out a book and read, each time you start having negative thoughts. Books are a great distraction and a good way to add to your knowledge. Besides, you can invest in books on how stop negative thinking.
Reframe the Situation
While distraction is a solution for negative thoughts, it is important to note that not all negative thoughts will require distraction. Some thoughts will need you to reframe the situation. For instance, if your car broke down while heading to a store, do not give your mind the chance to think negatively. Instead, you can reframe the issue, so you benefit from it. If your work is not extremely far, take the opportunity to walk to work and get some exercise while at it. This would be an excellent time to reflect as well. Therefore, always look at things from the positive side.
Conclusion
With all being said, the final decision to deal with a negative thought is all in your hands. No one deserves to be tormented by negative thoughts because they can steal away your joy. The above steps will come in handy if you are wondering how to stop negative thinking. Make use of them and take control of your thoughts to take charge of your life, which will improve your life.
