What’s the best way to deal with negative thoughts?
Of course! Easier said than done, I know. It is possible but requires some effort.
I’ve had very negative thoughts in the past. Particularly after the death of my 1st wife. There were other significant moments too.
So, how do you do that? I’m not any kind of trick cyclist (psychoanalyst to you!) but a lot depends on your view of yourself.
If you are pessimistic then you’ve got a serious battle on your hands. The trouble with pessimism is it’s a vicious cycle which is difficult to crack.
One negative thought leads to another, that makes you feel inadequate which makes you feel bad which leads to more negative thoughts.
The question is: how do you see yourself? What is it that you can regard as precious about you? What makes you negative?
Everybody has value. Regardless of background, education or upbringing YOU HAVE VALUE. This is real, accept it as worthy in itself. Once you realise you have worth, you can have a realistic take on the things that may not go as well as you desired.
Go back and read that last sentence again. Get it? Once more then, I can wait.
Do you see? In Dutch, when you translate “do you see” they say “luister” which is actually “listen”. I only mention this because it’s about your senses. Seeing and listening are really important as is stopping to think.
Say you’re nature is impulsive. Yeah, like that let’s do it! Then it all goes belly up. As a result you start telling yourself how stupid you are etc.
Or, let’s say you waited and took everything into consideration and it still went belly up! Great! “That always happens to me!”
Hello? Welcome to the world of ‘beat yourself up for no good reason!’ Stuff happens. It’s not you [though even if it is, what will you do about it?] or was there something beyond your control that was unavoidable?
Like it or not, things go wrong and often for no logical reason. Don’t turn it on yourself and play the blame game.
If you’re getting negative, take a walk, get in to nature, preferably with lots of trees or by a river – both would be a Brucey bonus* – take an interest in what’s around you. In other words, stop focusing on yourself!
There’s a great big, beautiful world out there and it isn’t out to get you! My father always told me “if at 1st you don’t succeed, try, try again” and its not a speech impediment. “Try” x 2 just means keep trying.
If what you are trying isn’t working maybe you should try a different way. Or something else?
Negative? Here’s a thought for you. Humans are magnetic. You won’t walk along and suddenly metal objects will stick to you! It’s just that we are reactive to our planet which is strongly magnetic. Animals aren’t.
Does that have any effect on your thinking? No idea! Just threw it in the mix as something to think about negative and positive.
I mean, if you feel negative just try a bit of positivity. It’s literally the polar opposite.
Have a great day!
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