Did you know that we have around 60,000 thoughts every single day?
According to research, each person has 60,000 thoughts ( the number increases with overthinking ) daily. But what is truly concerning is that 80% of these are negative thoughts. And 95% of the thoughts are repetitive and the same as yesterday’s.
You all have negative thoughts going on in your mind from the moment you wake up in the morning to the moment you fall asleep at night. Sometimes, these thoughts can’t even let you sleep peacefully. You are living in a repetitive cycle of the brain. It’s scary for the obvious reason that you are not freely living. Your mind controls your life, and you don’t even notice it. It seems like you give your whole control to your mind and let it do whatever it wants. Is it cool? Obviously No.
The mind is weird. It constantly focuses on the things that are going wrong. It pops up the things that scare you and feel tough and barely reminds you of the good stuff. That’s the nature of the brain. I am sure you have experienced it in your life that it’s you who reminds your brain of blessings and happiness when the continuously negative thoughts make you depressed. Otherwise, it focuses on that 1% of trouble and neglects the 99% of peace.
Remember when your thoughts destroy your mood or day, or maybe its destruction lasts more than the day? The mind causes more trouble than the actual problem. It kept you locked in the prison of thoughts. And that’s the real problem, my dear. You have to break that cycle. So you can live in peace, in the beautiful moment of life, and out of this prison because you deserve it.
Are your thoughts controlling your life?
Let me explain it to you. You often hear the phrase, What you think, you become. That’s so powerful. Your action, before you took that first step, was your thought. Your behavior about certain things is based on your thoughts. So, it’s obvious that action is linked to your thoughts. And your mind generates those thoughts. Right? Now, let me tell you one main thing: your mind generates those thoughts based on what you feed and consume.
That’s the reality. You can take this example to believe it. You kept singing unconsciously the lines from that song, which you listen to in the morning because you give it your attention and feed it to your mind. And there is the same pattern for your thoughts. That one thought that hit you in the morning repeatedly comes to mind throughout the day. Whatever the narrative you feed, it’s grown. I hope you understand what I am trying to explain to you.
Now, the problem is not the negative thought. The problem comes when you start to believe that thought. Here, you are creating the problem ( it’s crazy). If you keep repeating your negative thoughts, it becomes your reality. And these thoughts will get the best of you.
So it’s about time you start changing your thoughts.
How to break negative thought patterns?
People often try to forget their negative thoughts by pushing them down, ignoring them, or doing things to take their minds off them, like watching TV or scrolling social media. These things might help briefly, but the saying goes, “What you resist persists.” The more you try to avoid negative thoughts, the stronger they become. There is a better way to deal with them!
I used to be down on myself and depressed, but I found a way to be happy and peaceful. Now, I help others do the same thing. I created a simple 5-step method to turn negative thoughts into positive ones and eventually eliminate them. People I’ve helped have had great results using this method!
1- Recognize your thoughts
Your negative thoughts are not stronger than your positive thoughts. You only take them seriously because they are scary, not because they are telling you the truth. Catch negative thoughts before they take hold.
The first step is to become conscious of the negative thoughts. Just notice the thought pop up and let it be without attaching any meaning or emotions to it. Negative thoughts cause more harm when you attach your feelings to them. Don’t give your energy to it by focusing on it. See the thought for what it is: just a thought.
2- Take a reality check
Be the detective here and ask yourself: What is my truth? You are not your negative thoughts. You are not your negative inner narrative, insecurities, or fearful thoughts. Your brain is popping thoughts, and you are the observer. You don’t have to give them your confirmation. Please keep it simple. Put your hand on your heart and remind yourself this is not your reality.
Your emotions color your perception. Thoughts are natural. You turn them into positive and negative by using your feelings. So you also have to be conscious of that. And it’s in your hands; you can draw yourself out of that negative cycle.
3- Replace negative thoughts
Use that formula when struggling with negative thoughts: Notice, Stop, Replace. Do you know what differentiates positive people from negative ones? They also have negative thoughts, but they don’t let these thoughts control them. Stop making negative predictions. Think positive to counterbalance each negative thought. Add positive emotions because positivity brings more positivity.
Challenge your negative thoughts. Remember, you can tell things to your mind. If you tell your mind something positive and keep repeating it, your mind will accept it.
4- Stay away from negativity around you
Take a look at your daily life. Is there any negativity around you? What is it? Who is it? Do not let others project their fears, negativity, and anger onto you. Stay away from the news and media, which make out as if the world is about to end and civil war is about to break out.
Life is too short to spend with the people who are sucking your positivity. When you free yourself from the negative people you set yourself to be. And being you is the only way to live truly. Spend your time with the people who bring hope and happiness. And the people who can listen and celebrate you.
5- Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It can be an effective way to break free from negative thinking patterns and cultivate a more positive mindset. It teaches you to observe your thoughts without getting caught up. You can then let go of negative thoughts and focus on the present moment, which can help you feel more grounded, centered, and at peace
Give yourself time to reflect and analyze your thoughts throughout the day. Be conscious about that which triggers you. Navigate it and practice these steps that you just read.
Conclusion
Negative thoughts aren’t a problem themselves, but believing them is. It stresses the importance of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones and avoiding negativity in your surroundings. Mindfulness is presented as a tool to achieve this. Challenging negative thoughts is a journey, not a one-time fix.
By incorporating these steps into your daily routine, you’ll develop the strength to interrupt negativity and cultivate a more positive mindset. You deserve to feel empowered and in control of your thoughts. So, take a deep breath and begin breaking the negativity cycle.
If you enjoy reading my blog, you will enjoy my previous blog on How I Manage Stress.
