A Negative Mindset

A negative mindset can have a profound impact on our daily lives. It can lead to feelings of social anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem. It can also prevent us from taking action and achieving our goals.

If you find yourself struggling with negative thinking, know that you're not alone. A negative mindset is often caused by fear, worry, self-doubt, pessimism, or past trauma. By recognizing these patterns of thinking and working to reframe them, we can begin to cultivate a more positive and productive mindset.

Remember, a positive mindset is key to unlocking our full potential and achieving success.

Negative thinking is a common experience for most people. It's important to recognize that being hard on ourselves is not the solution, nor is coming up with a positive alternative to every negative thought we have. Acknowledging our negative experiences is okay, and it's important not to treat negative thoughts as unacceptable. However, if you notice that most of your thinking lately has been negative and it's becoming harder and harder to be hopeful or optimistic, it might be time to put your thoughts into perspective. When we allow negative thoughts to consume us, it becomes harder to enjoy ourselves, be kind to others, and be grateful for our experiences. Don't let negativity take control.

Below are some suggestions to keep negative thinking under control:

Let them ‘Come & Go’.

Let's face it, negative thoughts are inevitable. But don't beat yourself up for having them. Instead, try visualizing them as balloons that float away. Acknowledge the thought, and then let it go. Remember, your thoughts don't define you or your circumstances.

Gratitude.

Take a moment, no matter how small, to appreciate the good things in your life. It could be something as simple as enjoying a cup of coffee or the fact that it's Friday. Practicing gratitude during good times can help you remember what you were grateful for when times get tough.

Avoid ’All-or-Nothing’ Thinking.

It's important not to use words like "never" or "always" in our thinking, as things can change over time. Instead, use words like "often" or "occasionally."

Manage your Expectations.

We also need to be careful not to have too many specific expectations for outcomes that we can't predict. Whether it's a relationship or a job opportunity, things can change quickly and unexpectedly. By keeping an open mind and being flexible, we can better prepare ourselves for any surprises that come our way.

Things that just need to STOP:

1. Perfectionism - trying to achieve something that is impossible or literally unattainable will unnecessarily make you feel less than.

2. Judgement (Self & Others) - when you are being judgmental you are focusing on the negative qualities of self and others and filling your mind, hence you attitude, and behaviors from the negative cup.

3. Self-Doubt - this is a weed that will be overgrown and spread if you do not kill it at the root.

4. Assuming the Worst - if you don't think things will become better, they never will.

5. Worry & Anxiety - this does absolutely nothing for you except negatively impact your health.

6. Complaining - again, when you focus on the negative, you are setting yourself up to be unhappy and not content.

7. Trying to Control Everything - you just can't control everything, and when you try do, you will fail and start blaming self or others.

What are your tips and tricks on this front?