Quit Negative Thinking for Good!
By Sara Butler
That stinking thinking you’ve been doing lately isn’t helping you to be happy or achieve your goals. You may think you’re destined to see the glass as always half-empty, but that’s not true! You can retrain your brain and shut down negative thinking before it starts with just a few handy tools and tricks. Here’s how to overcome negative thinking in a few familiar scenarios that can be applied across different platforms in your daily life.
There’s Disaster Around Every Corner!
Say you want to throw a surprise birthday party for your husband, but you just can’t break out of thinking about all the things that could go wrong if you do. What if someone ruins the surprise or what if you invite someone he doesn’t really like? What if the birthday cake sets the house on fire?
This is an example of what experts call catastrophizing. You may be a victim of it if tragic scenarios are the first place your brain goes, no matter if those scenarios are realistic or not.
You can fight back against this negative thinking by reminding yourself that these worst case scenarios are all in your head. Sure, your brain might be simply trying to prepare you for problems that lie ahead, but at what cost? You must try to remind yourself that these fantastic scenarios in your head aren’t grounded in reality. If you need to talk them through with a friend, that’s a good idea. They’ll help you to see that what you’re thinking is exaggerated.
Everything is Your Fault
You just joined a new group, but as soon as you do, then a couple of members leave. If your mind automatically defaults to thinking it was something you did that caused their departure, then you might be doing something called personalizing.
People who personalize think they’re responsible for the negativity that surrounds them without considering other possibilities. Get some perspective on this misguided way of thinking by recognizing what you’re doing and reminding yourself that you’re not responsible for all the woes in the world.
You’re a Debbie Downer
If you tend to focus on the negative of something, then you’re what the professionals call someone who magnifies the negative. Nothing is ever going to be a 100 percent perfect, but if you find yourself focusing on the one thing that isn’t perfect, then this is probably you.
You can fix this by looking at every scenario and forcing yourself to pick out three great things about it. This can help keep bad thoughts at bay and help you to be happier!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Shiloh, Ill.