Posted by It’s no strange to us that most times we tend to engage more in negative thoughts than in the positive. Frequently, we prefer to wallow in self-pity, self-doubt, pessimism and low self-worth. These elements are all items of poor, defective and detrimental thinking habit referred to as negative thoughts.
Contrarily, we equally have the power and the tools to transform our direction and nature of thoughts to become more progressive, favourable and optimistic. Though, negative thoughts tends to be more absorbing, consuming and potent, positive thoughts, when properly engaged can produce even greater effects and influences. Still, most humans quickly resort to negative thoughts and kind of feel okay indulging in it.
Sometimes quite ignorant if the deleterious impact of these negative thoughts and quite surprisingly, at other times, dwell in negative thoughts armed with the full knowledge of it’s poor prospects. To give you a little reflective thinking, I wish to share this quote. “If you put negative thoughts into your mind, you’re going to get negative results. It’s just as true that if you put positive thoughts in your mind, you will be a recipient of positive results.” – Lou Holtz
Previously, we had examined how negative thoughts can precipitate and trigger negative outcomes. Concurrently, I want us to discuss some strategies and tips with which we can effectively deal with negative thoughts while simultaneously redirecting our brains and transforming our thinking faculty from negative to positive. How to Restructure our minds and start thinking positively “Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.” – Vince Lombardi I really do hope that you read that right. It might seem a mere construction of words but in reality, it is the truth.
Critically, almost everything in life comes down to one thing; decision making. I know that you may have a lot of objection and an argument against this submission. However, if you take a more keen analysis, you will discover that it is the truth. With decision making, we lay out the path of our lives. So, in trying to do a thing or two, we must first decide that we want to do them. As such, this takes us to our first point in transforming our negative thoughts to more positive ones.
Deciding that we want to think positively Even though this may not mean much just reading it, but paying attention to this will give you some deeper perspective. The truth is, until we decide to actively do something about our thinking pattern and take the decision to think positively, we will still be wandering once in a while into the wilderness of negative thoughts. So, it is necessary that we literally take a decision and speak same to ourselves that we are going to be positive with our thoughts. Using rightness and Wrongness to judge our actions rather than prevailing trends.
There’s an invisible trap laid by societal forces where everyone is expected to act in a certain kind of way, do things as is being generally practiced and handle issues using proposed methods. The bait is that since a thing was done in a particular way by a set of persons and a kind of result was gotten, everyone should also apply similar means. A deviation from this means you are bound to fail.
Unfortunately, this is a fallacy that many of us have fallen for. Since we may be hindered or constrained by some factors and cannot fit into this class, we decide not to act, to feel disadvantaged and begin to think negatively. However, ranking our proposed actions on the scale of how right or wrong they are will help us take a good stand irrespective of societal opinion while avoiding the negative process of rating ourselves based on the standard of others.
Maintaining Objectivity by Weighing the contrasting Alternatives Sometimes the things we are afraid of to do, the alternatives that frightens us and create pessimism in us may not be so bad. Also, the opportunity of this unfavourable outcome taking place may be equal to us having favourable outcome from the same action or decision. So, rather than look at the worst possible consequence, also look at the best possible gain. With this in mind, our feeling of inadequacy and disbelief which are negative positions, will gradually fade.
Evaluating the Cost and Risks of every action On the whole, after all our apprehensions and fears of the unknown, we may not entirely loose by taking a step we were unsure of or didn’t feel quite confident about initially. Sometimes, it is the failure to rationally assess our decision that instils fear and reluctance in us making us think negatively. Magnifying the Gains rather than the Curses Undeniably, we are created with limitations and weaknesses. It is a fact and we need to face it. Nonetheless, it is quite counter production blowing these limitations out of proportion and making them look so huge and big. Making mountains out of mole hills will only infect us with negative thoughts.
Instead of exaggeration and misappropriation, we should consider viewing these things as they are. It will help us develop plans of dealing with them more effectively. Devicing means of motivating and inspiring yourself It could be tapes, maybe a song, a passage of scripture, a chat with a friend, a preview of our previous achievements, whatever necessary, we need to find energy from somewhere.
Truly, no one can really inspire us or motivate us more than ourselves. Therefore, when we are battling with negative emotions, we can help ourselves by seeking motivation. With the right frame of mind, we can develop more positive attitudes and nurture Positive thoughts.
Developing Strong Self-worth, Value, Self-esteem and Belief The reason we doubt ourselves is because we fail to appreciate how valuable we are. We seldom acknowledge the great potentials we carry. We subject ourselves to self-pity and disbelief. Amazingly, we are far more than we think and give ourselves credit for. We are special, unique and spectacular people. To successfully fight off negative thoughts and nurse positive ones, we need to start seeing our worth and being confident in our abilities. Even when we don’t seem to have them naturally, the fact that we can easily develop them should be enough reason for us to be positive. Everything is possible.
Sometimes, as most people have already theorized, all we need to succeed and feel good about ourselves is simply bearing a thought. As such, knowing that negative thoughts will lead us nowhere, make us feel low and culminate in horrendous outcomes is enough reason for us to avoid them with all our might. Meanwhile, dwelling and musing about positive things and having positive thoughts holds massive promises and benefits in all spheres of our lives. Think positive!