Get Rid of Negative Thoughts

Is there a loop like negative thoughts running through your head?  Sometimes we are too critical of ourselves or the situation and we start to believe every doubt-filled thought.

We usually forget all the good stuff and crib about what we don’t have. My New Year’s Resolution was to be more positive. Incredibly, working on this choice for the last seven months has helped me to break my cycle of negative thoughts. Doing the following has helped me change how I think about myself and my life. Here’s how…

Be realistic: Is whatever you are criticizing really all that bad? Is your mistake devastating? Change your perception. Instead of beating yourself up, ask yourself “What can I learn from this?” Turn your critique into a teachable moment. Sometimes what we think is a horrible goof-up is really just a small, sometimes funny, bump in the road.

 

Be proactive: Surround yourself with positive people and ideas. We all have a Negative Nancy in our lives. You know who I mean-the friend who can find something wrong in every situation. This negativity is contagious. So is positivity and enthusiasm. While Perpetually Perky People can drive you crazy, people who can make the best of a bad situation are a wonderful role model for that self-critic in your head. Seek out positive social media, and cut out the negative. I follow several Facebook pages that often post inspirational quotes. Seeing these in my newsfeed keeps me motivated.

 

Be compassionate: Why are you being so hard on yourself? Would you speak to someone else the way you speak to yourself? Why do you accept this from yourself? Nobody is perfect.  Nor should anybody be. Our imperfections can be endearing.

 

Be gracious: When someone compliments you, say “Thank you” and nothing else. Accept it with grace, and without protest. Don’t try to deny or diminish their words. They said it for a reason, so take it to heart.

 

Be a defender: If you heard someone speak to your mom, dad, sister, friend, or child the way you talk to yourself, would you stand by and say it is okay? I doubt it. Defend your heart and your feelings the same way you would defend someone else’s.

Be quiet: Challenge yourself to go 24 hours without criticizing yourself. When you catch yourself with a negative thought, replace it with a positive thought. At the end of those 24 hours, take the time to notice any change in how you are feeling.

 

Be daring enough to accept yourself as you are.

 

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