How to Stop Negative Thinking: 3 Easy Steps

How to Stop Negative Thinking

Negative thinking can affect all of us at some point. We might even tell ourselves that we are being realistic by thinking negatively, but this is a big mistake. Negative thinking can be a persistent and detrimental force in our lives. It can drain our energy, hinder our progress, and impact our overall well-being. In this article, we will explore effective techniques and practical tips to help you stop negative thinking and embrace a more positive mindset.

What is Negative Thinking

Negative thinking can be defined as pessimistic or as a negative attitude towards life in general. It can also be defined as the inability to see the bigger picture and focus on the solution. Negative thinking is a term that describes the process where you spend most of your time thinking negatively.

Negative thinking is not just about thinking negatively but also the inability to think positively. It is when you see the bad in every situation. You interpret things negatively. When you are in a negative thinking state of mind, you are not thinking positively or constructively, you are simply looking out at the world and finding all the things that are wrong with it.

Negative Thinking Examples

Here are a few common negative thinking examples:

• I’m not good enough.

• I’m not as good as others.

• I’m not making any progress.

• I’m undeserving.

• I’m not smart enough.

• I deserve only the worst.

• I have no one to help me.

• I have to do everything myself.

• I’m a failure.

• I’m not getting any better.

It’s possible that you have these thoughts, and don’t even realize it! These thoughts create an emotional reaction before there is even actually a problem. With negative thinking, you will feel and say things that keep you stuck and feel bad about yourself. All of these examples can either be turned around to a positive thought, or simply eliminated from your day and your life.

What Causes Negative Thinking

There are many causes of negative thinking, including stress, anxiety, depression, and negative life experiences. Negative thinking can also be caused by negative self-talk, which is when a person negatively talks to themselves. This can make a person feel worse about themselves and their situation, and make it harder to see the positive side of things.

Effects of Negative Thinking

Many of us have a lot of negative thoughts but we don't realize what we are doing to ourselves. When we have these negative thoughts it might give us a rush of energy, but it makes us feel depressed, anxious, and stressed.

Negative thinking plays a big role in developing and increasing social anxiety. This vicious cycle of negative thinking leads to a downward spiral that discourages you from any social activities at all.

If you engage in negative thoughts long enough, they begin to affect your self-esteem. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness, self-doubt, lack of motivation, and even depression.

3 Easy Steps to Stop Negative Thinking

You can stop negative thinking and build up your confidence if you follow these 3 simple steps:

First, you need to catch your negative thoughts as they appear. As soon as you notice negative thoughts running through your mind, you have become aware of them and can finally do something about it. Say to yourself: "Stop! This kind of thinking doesn't do any good to me. It's counterproductive and prevents me from achieving more in my life. I will not listen to those thoughts anymore!"

Now change your focus. Think of something that you find calming or pleasant. This could be your favorite vacation spot or something that you like very much. You will find out that changing your focus to something more positive will reflect in your feelings. You will start feeling better.

You can also change your focus by doing something else than what you were doing before. You can read a book, watch a funny movie, take a walk, and play with your dog or with your kids. You can also listen to good music. Another good way to change your focus is to get moving and do some exercise. It is a well-known fact that working out releases endorphins, which in turn makes you feel good.

Now that you have changed your feelings and attention to something you like, you need to start practicing positive thinking. Think about your past achievements and successes. I'm sure you have plenty. If you take some time to think about your past achievements, you will be surprised, at how much you have accomplished so far.

Be thankful for everything you have and for everything life throws at you. After all, it's all good for something. Maybe some things are way too overwhelming for you right now, but soon you will see that it wasn't that bad and that you learned something from that experience.

How Do You Stop Negative Thoughts

Now, precisely How Do You Stop Thinking Negative Thoughts?

First, be aware of your thoughts. Pay attention when you're thinking negatively and try to catch yourself in the moment. Once you're aware of your thoughts, you can start to challenge them.

Ask yourself: is this thought true? Is there any evidence to support it? Is it helpful? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then let the thought go.

Then, start to re-frame your thoughts. Try to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Instead of thinking "I'm such a failure," try thinking "I'm doing my best and I'm learning from my mistakes." Instead of thinking "Nobody likes me," try thinking "I have some great friends who care about me."

It takes practice, but you can learn to catch and challenge your negative thoughts, and eventually, you can train your mind to think more positively. And when you do, you'll find that your life is much happier and more fulfilling.

Hope you have found this article on How to Stop Negative Thinking useful. If you have more ideas do comment below.

    Read also: Learn to Do CBT on Yourself