We all fall into a trap of negative thinking once in a while. Negative thinking makes us feel sad and worried. It often leads to overthinking and creating some crazy scenarios in our minds. Some time ago, I wrote a blog about the power of our minds. I talked about how our thoughts and emotions influence our reality. Most of the thoughts we are thinking today are repetitious. The thoughts we were thinking yesterday, we often carry with us to today. So, there is not a surprise, you may call yourself (or others will do) a negative thinker, if you are constantly dwelling on the same negative frequency. The good news is, there are many fantastic techniques we can use to let go of negative thoughts and adopt a new, healthy thinking patterns. I would like to share with you a five helpful ways, which can help you to let go of negative thoughts. I hope they will inspire you.
1. Rising above negativity
You are the only one choosing your thoughts, so begin to choose the good ones. It can sound easier said than done, but stay with me. The change always begins with changing your mindset. I believe that one positive thought can cancel even hundred of negative thoughts. Focusing your attention on what you want and how you want to feel, instead of placing it onto what you don’t want to experience, will make a magical shift in your thinking. Your thoughts, and also the words you speak out loud, are very powerful. They effect your subconscious. Every time a negative thought arises, replace it with the positive thought. This is a quick and effective way to begin training your mind to think in a more positive way.
2. Positive affirmations
I often talk about positive affirmations, because they work (when you use them). Using positive affirmations can re-train your mind. There are three important keys to using positive affirmations. Affirmations need to be positive, personal and in a present tense. I call them a 3 P’s. For example: “I am feeling happy and excited about my life.” It is positive, it is personal and it is in a present tense. Affirmations can help you shift your perception of life. When you catch yourself wandering to a negative thinking pattern, try to think the exact opposite, by creating a positive affirmation. For example: If you worry about a meeting at work, you can use this powerful affirmation: “I am only attracting positive people and positive situations into my life. Everything is working out for me.” Create your own affirmations and use them regularly, not only when you feel stressed, negative or upset. I also recommend using positive affirmation first thing in the morning upon waking up. So, before checking your emails and getting on with your daily tasks, take a few deep breaths and repeat some positive affirmations to start your day right. Positive affirmations may feel like a lie to you when you start using them, but after a while, you will be amazed how beneficial they actually are. Begin today.
3. Erasing negative thoughts
One of my favourite techniques is visualising writing my negative thoughts on an imaginary blackboard. Once they are written down, I imagine, I am erasing them. As they are being erased, I feel they are also being released from my life. The next powerful technique is seeing the negative thoughts on a big screen (e.g. a big TV or a cinema screen ). As you are looking at the words on this screen, visualise, they are shrinking, getting smaller and smaller, until they completely disappear. Try these techniques and see if they work for you.
4. Re-evalute your relationships
Do you spend most of your time around negative people? No wonder you are feeling negative or de-motivated. The people we spend the most time with is exactly what we become. People who are constantly complaining, blaming others, are not a very good company to be around. Re-evaluating your relationships doesn’t mean you are blaming them. It means you are noticing what is going on around you, and how this is effecting your life and the way you feel. It also doesn’t mean to cut these people off from your life. Maybe you can talk to them and try to help them, or if that doesn’t help, choose how much time you actually want to invest in these relationships. If the negative people are a members of your family, remember that you cannot change anybody, unless they want to change. What you can do, is be an example of your own beautiful (positive) self. After a while, they may start mirroring your own positive energy.
5. Release and surrender
Here is a spiritual tip for you. Release and surrender the negative thoughts to the care of the Universe. We often try to control everything that happens to us. We want everything to go our way, but we forget, that everything that happens to us, is serving our highest good. There is always a lesson we are learning. When you are caught up in a spiral of negative thinking and nothing else works to lift yourself up, release and surrender your negative thoughts. Say to the Universe: “I don’t know what is going on, but I am done with feeling this way. I am willing to surrender all these thoughts to you, Universe. Please, help me to see the light in my life, and help me to shift my perception.” Then, release it. Trust and know, the higher power of the Universe is taking care of the rest. Remember to think positive and positive things will happen.