“What we focus on, we empower and enlarge. Good multiplies when focused upon. Negativity multiplies when focused upon. The choice is ours: Which do we want more of?”
- Julia Cameron
Are you carrying around some junk? You know, those hurtful and disastrous things that you may have been told by someone during the course of your life. It was supposed to be taken with a grain of salt or simply ignored but most of the times we take that criticism and wear it like a hat of shame! Negative thinking can make all sorts of things incredibly difficult. It is like a leak in your confidence bucket — constantly drip-drip-dripping away your confidence and self esteem.
Negative thinking can be useful to help assess the possible pitfalls in a potential plan of action, but you need to be able to turn it on and off at will. Otherwise, negative thoughts will sabotage your self belief, your confidence and your achievements. Here are some effects of negative thinking:
Sleeping problems
It can become very difficult to get to sleep, because you feel worse at night. There are a number of reasons why. While you’re trying to drop off to sleep, there’s nothing to distract you from the worries that may have been lurking in the background during the day.Sapping your self-confidence
The more problems you think you have, the less able you may feel to cope with them, and this can increase your sense of helplessness. This reduces your confidence, making you more vulnerable to your fears.Unhelpful strategies
Under this kind of pressure, it may become very difficult for you to concentrate and carry on with everyday life, so that your problems tend to build up. It’s emotionally draining to feel anxious all the time. It may feel as though your whole life is being taken over by it.
Negative thoughts are not reserved for just a few people or situations. Everyone is plagued by negative thoughts at one time or another. However, once you begin thinking about what you’re “thinking about”, you’ve already taken the first step to controlling negative thoughts.
Research shows that people who receive positive distractions for just eight minutes show a remarkable change in their moods and in breaking the cycle of repetitive thought. So, next time you catch yourself repeating the same negative thoughts over and over in your mind, use the STOP acronym:
1. S – Say the word STOP!
Interrupt your internal destructive thoughts. Tell yourself firmly to “STOP” over thinking. Be strict, and don’t let them intrude on your thoughts. It also might be helpful to visualize a box to place all your negative thoughts in, which you may open at a later date or time.
2. T – TAKE a break!
Take a deep breath. Then, take a break. Go for a walk or a hike, read a great book, listen to your favorite music. Do something to take your attention away from over thinking, and if possible, change the environment.
Also try some relaxation exercises, they often focus on replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. This could involve imagining yourself in a new setting, such as a beach, a designer home or a garden. You could visualize your worries as physical objects that can be discarded, such as stones or rocks you could heave into the distance.
Sometimes, doing a relaxation exercise makes people feel quite uncomfortable. You might feel that it’s not working, or that you’re doing it wrong. It’s best to take the attitude that you’re just giving it a go, and that these negative thoughts are normal. Surprisingly, learning to relax takes practice.
3. O – Focus on the OUTCOME!
Focus on the OUTCOME of your goals. Affirm why you are committed to your goals. The way we feel and what we experience in our body comes from what we focus our attention upon during a given moment. And at any moment, we are “deleting” most of what is going on around us. That is, to feel bad, we have to delete (not focus on, not think about) everything that’s great in our life. And vice versa. For us to feel good, we have to delete the things we could feel bad about.
4. P – PRAISE yourself!
PRAISE and acknowledge yourself for the progress you are making. Remember, you’re looking for progress, not perfection! Give yourself a reward every time you’re successful with overcoming negative thoughts. And remember small changes make a big difference.
By recognizing that you do have negative thoughts you’ve taken the first step. Now, start playing Devil’s Advocate and challenge yourself to find the positive. Turn your thoughts around and your moods will follow suit.
And remember, you are what you think!
If you liked this article, please bookmark it on del.icio.us or vote for it on Digg. Thank you!
Bruno
October 29, 2007
Very interesting post.
Supplementary apprehend as the: one of the best ways to create change is by using affirmations that lead to positive thinking. Positive Thinking Affirmations are simple statements that you say to yourself over and over again. Through constant repetition your subconscious mind picks up the message and you start taking action to create change. It’s a way of changing behavior to achieve your goal. Affirmations create Positive Thinking which leads to greater change.
October 29, 2007
[...] Negative thoughts Here’s a Quick Way to STOP Negative Thoughts [...]
October 29, 2007
[...] the LINK [...]
October 29, 2007
[...] Are you carrying around some junk? You know, those hurtful and disastrous things that you may have been told by someone during the course of your life. It was supposed to be taken with a grain of salt or simply ignored but most of the times we take that criticism and wear it like a hat of shame!read more | digg story [...]
October 29, 2007
Andy seems like a spambot to me. Also, interesting post
October 29, 2007
I’m not a pessimist, I’m a realistic optimist.
October 29, 2007
Andy does seem like a spam bot or a spam person with cut and past know how. Anyway, great post. Negative thinking really can affect me from time to time and being proactive and managing it is a must. Thanks1
October 29, 2007
The last is most important, in my opinion. You need to congratulate yourself for putting yourself out there. – Eric Monse
October 29, 2007
Really nice overview!
October 29, 2007
I used to feel so negative about me being this beautiful woman trapped inside this obese 40 year old man’s body. I used to stare at myself in the mirror and wish she could just shed this disgusting hairy man flesh. Then one day I decided to banish my negativity. I began working overtime, saved every penny and rewarded myself with my sex change. Now I’m a new liberated woman! Free to enjoy the world the way it was meant to for me. Oh the joy of being free from the physcial chains that bind us from being who we are truly meant to be! Oh the joy of loving yourself! Oh the joy of having a mangina!
Thank you for this post, it means so much to a former man transformed into a liberated woman!
P.S.
Any tips on getting rid of back hair..
October 29, 2007
Instead of saying ‘STOP’, does anyone else just let off a few profanities mixed with violent head shakes? I’ve been fighting this for a while — plagued by thoughts. I have a difficult time concentrating on anything except a cascade of thoughts — recollections of past mistakes. It happens mostly when I’m alone, which is most of the time.
October 29, 2007
[...] via [ririan project] digg_url=’http://www.alex76.com/2007/10/30/here%e2%80%99s-a-quick-way-to-stop-negative-thoughts/’; digg_skin = ‘compact’; digg_bgcolor = ‘#FFFFFF’; digg_title = ‘Here’s a Quick Way to STOP Negative Thoughts’; digg_bodytext = ”; digg_topic = ”; Powered by Gregarious (39) [...]
October 29, 2007
Andy is just repeating his affirmations.
And… this is a very helpful article that kept everything short, memorable, to the point, practical, clear. Excellent.
Thanks!
October 30, 2007
Just as I was feeling negative, I read this and now feel a bit better! Well written article too!
October 30, 2007
Great article. I usually like to imagine myself much happier and then just assume the role of being happy. It usually ends up precipitating more happy thoughts and feelings.
October 30, 2007
Stating the obvious in my opinion. Nothing new here.
October 30, 2007
Do some charity, much will be fixed.
October 31, 2007
Very well said. Our thoughts control our actions and as much as everyone know to think positively we benefit when we know ways how…
November 5, 2007
[...] Quando você precisa avaliar possíveis problemas no dia-a-dia, não há como escapar de pensamentos negativos, e esses pensamentos são aqueles que costumam grudar na nossa cabeça. E uma vez instalados, eles acabam com nosso poder de concentração e de tomada de decisão. Só que existem maneiras de impedir que essas idéias acabem pendendo somente para o lado negativo. Conferindo um post do Ririan Project, um blog sobre desenvolvimento pessoal, encontrei as dicas abaixo que funcionam muito bem nesse tipo situação. Confira a lista: [...]
November 6, 2007
[...] 原文地址：Here’s a Quick Way to STOP Negative Thoughts [...]
November 7, 2007
[...] 原文地址：Here’s a Quick Way to STOP Negative Thoughts翻译：恒星 转载自 Angelived中文翻译 [...]
January 10, 2008
[...] 原文地址：Here’s a Quick Way to STOP Negative Thoughts翻译：恒星 [...]
January 17, 2008
[...] Read this very good article. « Chinese Ambassador on India | [...]
April 10, 2008
[...] 原文地址：Here’s a Quick Way to STOP Negative Thoughts [...]
May 21, 2008
I love that you ended this article saying “And remember, you are what you think!” It is sometime difficult to admit or explain to others how thoughts have the biggest part-take in reality.
Yet, thoughts are the most important device we have in order to shape our lives. First comes thoughts, then comes beliefs and it is our beliefs that determine the actions we take or do not take. In other words, what we believe affects every choice we make. The future of your life is set in motion and shaped by everything you believe. If you believe something is possible you are more willing to do whatever it takes to make it a reality. You only lack in action when you lack in belief and you only lack in belief through what you think about it.
Thank you for taking the time to write, post, and share this article.
I added it to Digg.
November 25, 2008
So where’s that meditation?
January 8, 2009
The enemy is within us and takes the form of stealthy negative thinking. Good tips on stopping negative thinking
July 2, 2009
[...] do something I am rather good at. This does two things, first it gives me a needed break from the negative thought feed, and then I get to in a sense RECHARGE my soul by breezily practicing something I both enjoy and do [...]