5 Steps To Overcome Negative Thinking

Having negative thoughts from time to time, is perfectly normal. However, having negative thoughts on a regular basis can have long-lasting effects on your health and your relationships. I have issues with negative thinking. I’ve seen the negative impact first hand. And I don’t like it. So if you find yourself in the same boat, I ask you to join me in my challenge to overcome negative thinking.

Please note: There is no quick fix for negative thinking. Overcoming negative thinking is going to require some time and patience. Most importantly, you are going to need to make it a priority and be intentional about reducing your negative thoughts.

Stop Complaining

When we complain, it is because we are looking for validation. We want someone to agree that we have it hard.

While we may want validation that what we are facing is harder or worse than what others are going through, the truth is that all people face hardships.

The next time you feel the urge to tell someone about the latest unfortunate thing in your life, just stop. Don’t do it. You know how in the movie Bambi there was a bunny that said, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” Well, we need to apply this to complaining. If you can’t find something good to say, just don’t say it.

When the day has been difficult instead try to share a positive aspect of the day. Not only will your friend or family member appreciate your positive spin on the day, so will your brain.

Choose Your Company Wisely

They say misery love company. Oh and birds of a feather, flock together. If you don’t want to be negative, you’ll need to limit the time you spend with other negative thinkers.

When you are spending time with a friend, think about how you feel afterward. Does this friend leave you feeling uplifted and positive? Or do they put off a negative vibe?

Some people will tell you to cut out negative people from your life, but I know that isn’t always possible or the best idea. If you have a person in your life that is super negative, try to limit the time you spend with them. If you must spend time with them, try not to get sucked into the negative. Practice not complaining and spinning your day into a positive one.

Don’t Over Think Things

If you are the type of person that goes over all of the potential choices and all of the potential outcomes to make sure you are making a perfect choice, you are probably overthinking things.

I know that overthinking things is tempting. You want to be able to control the possible outcomes. While your intentions of limiting mistakes and negative outcomes is good, there are certain things that are uncontrollable.

Overthinking can steal joy away from situations. By overthinking you could be taking something good and making it negative. Or you could be taking something just okay and making it worse than it really is.

It’s okay to think about things and make good decisions but limit yourself. Think of a couple of options and then move on. If you make the wrong decisions, it’s okay. Learn from it and move on. Also what may seem like a bad choice might or a bad outcome might not really be that bad once we gain some perspective.

Quit Rehashing Your Past Mistakes

Do you lie awake at night thinking about all of the mistakes you’ve ever made in your life? Do you think about what you should have done and what could be if you had decided differently?

Rehashing your past mistakes creates negative feelings of shame or guilt. The act of reflection in itself isn’t negative. But it can become a problem when you wallow in your mistakes instead of learning from them.

Move on from your past mistakes by identifying them and learning from them. Forgive yourself and try not to make the same mistake again.

Do Things That Make You Happy

It is easier to overcome negative thinking when you are spending time doing things that make you happy.  Make sure to take some time for self-care and activities that you enjoy, even if it is just a few minutes at a time. Be intentional with your hobbies and time. When you are doing something that makes you happy, try to be more present. You want to fully experience happiness. If you choose to fill your time with positiveness, your mind will follow suit.

Finally Overcome Negative Thinking

Overcoming negative thoughts is going to take time and practice. The more you practice, the sooner these actions will become second nature.

I hope this blog post is helpful to you. If you have any questions or tips you would like to share, drop them in the comment section below.