Health & Wellness

 Break Away From Negative Thoughts

Negative thoughts make us doubt our true potential. Our inner-critic often makes us feel like we are not good enough for something. Negative emotions like stress, fear, anxiety, frustration, etc., spoil our mood and make us feel low and depressed. Do you find yourself in this situation frequently? Do you find it hard to break away from a negative trail of thoughts? If the answer to this question is yes, keep reading ahead.  

Here are a few tips that can help you break the cycle of negative thoughts.

1. Understand the reason behind negative emotions 

Try to pinpoint the main reason that is making you feel low. Find the cause behind your negative thoughts and analyze them. Understand your thinking so that you can make the necessary changes to overcome it. 

2. Make a change. Take one small step at a time 

Once you analyze your thinking, try to cut down on things that trigger negative emotions. Do activities or work that you wish to do, do not do them because you "have to."

3. Do not fixate on things that are wrong in life 

Our negative emotions often revolve around things in our life that are not going as expected. Try not to exaggerate and give undue importance to these thoughts. 

4. Don't hold on to your thoughts. Just let it go 

Holding on to your negative emotions and applying them to all the things that go wrong in your life is not a healthy habit. Give yourself some time, and never look back on those events. Just let the bad feelings go. 

5. Be your friend

Replace your negative self-talk with a positive one. Try writing down your thoughts so that they are easy to track. Devise a plan and make yourself a great company to be around. 

6. Use affirmative language

Try being grateful for each day and morning. Start your day on a positive note. Tell yourself about all the good things in your life and all the success that helped you get where you are. 

7. Practice meditation and self-acceptance

Meditation has the power to calm yourself from within and silence the negative thoughts. Engage yourself in meditating for at least 15 mins daily. Own your feelings and accept them. 

8. Practice coping mechanisms

Consistently practice different coping strategies to deal with stress, negative thinking, and anxiety. Research about mechanisms like thought diffusion, affirmative defense, etc., and find the one best suited for you.   

Stress and Negative thinking are a part of life. Everyone experiences it as they go through life. In case the negative thoughts stick around and depress you, make sure you get professional help. While it is hard to speak out your emotions, therapists can help you break from the negative thinking cycle. Always remember to take life with a grain of salt. 

"Remember, what you "feel" and what is "real" are often very different." - Eddie Capparucci, LPC.

If things are not going well, there might be better things on the way. Always keep the faith and make positive thinking a habit. 

______________________________
By: Shruti Shrivastva | Life Within