Subscribe to our free, daily publication for all your Westford news.
Negative thoughts are things that none of us really wants to have, but we all seem to have to deal with them at some point. Whether the negative thoughts are about yourself, the things you’re doing, your job or other people, sometimes it’s really hard to get rid of negative thoughts once they enter your mind. Here are some of the techniques you can use to help stop negative thoughts.
Practice actively stopping negative thoughts – If you feel you’re about to start thinking negatively, stop the thoughts before they have a chance to really kick in and take over your mind. If you’ve already started thinking negatively, actively change the thoughts to positive ones. I know, I know…it’s easier said than done, and the more you practice this, the less you’ll find yourself thinking negatively.
Focus on the positive – Even if you don’t have any negative thoughts at the moment, you can help to keep them away by focusing on the positive things in your world. Throughout the day, think about the things you like about yourself and about your life.
Do things that boost your confidence – Whether it’s the confidence you feel about your own self or the confidence to do new and different things, building on your own self confidence is always a good thing. Go out of your way to do things that will take you out of your comfort zone and that will give your self esteem a boost.
Spend time with positive people – The people you hang around with have a big effect on the way you feel about life in general. If you surround yourself with people who are consistently negative, you will start to feel negative about more things. If you spend time with positive people, you will feel more positive about your life in general.
Meditate regularly – Meditating regularly gives you the chance to slow things down and breathe and think about your life. Giving yourself this time each day, or even a couple of times a week, will help you promote positive thoughts and get rid of any negative thoughts which you might be holding onto.
Try talking therapy – People are often put off by the word ‘therapy’, but talking therapy is a great way to let go of any negative thoughts and get some things off your chest. While counsellors will offer this service to you, many people like to get a form of talking therapy from friends and family. If there is someone you trust, ask them to chat with you over a cup of coffee while you share some problems and negative thoughts you’ve been having.
Here’s a bonus suggestion for you. One of my favorite tricks when I’m stressed out and dealing with negative thoughts that just won’t go away is to make an appointment with myself to deal with the issues/thoughts. For instance, I’ll tell myself, “I’ll deal with these thoughts tomorrow at 9 am.” What this does for me is not try to eliminate them which, if they’re being stubborn is hard, but it does help my mind let go of them at least temporarily.
While we all at one time or another deal with negative thoughts, it’s really important not to let them become our “best worst friends”…if you know what I mean.
Cheryl A Major lives in Westford and is a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. Her TV show, Thin Strong Healthy, airs on WestfordCat and is an offshoot of her blog http://ThinStrongHealthy.com Cheryl offers ongoing information and personal health coaching to help you feel better and be healthier. Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CherylAMajor. She is also a full time residential Realtor with Coldwell Banker with more than 25 years experience.
Questions? Email Cheryl at cheryl@thinstronghealthy.com and be sure to put Health Question in the subject line. Your question and its answer will be included in a future article
P.S. Get a copy of this special report I’ve prepared as my free gift to you: 10 Tips for Healthy Eating on a Budget at http://ThinStrongHealthy.com . As a bonus, you will receive Your Major Health Minutes, a quick bite of healthy information that will come to you a couple of times a week. You know you want to lose weight and be healthier!
