Negative thoughts can thwart a person's growth and minimize the chances of succeeding at any task at hand. It is, therefore, a good idea to learn how to stop negative thoughts and bring in positive thoughts instead. In the following piece, that is exactly what we shall be doing.
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
Thinks is the imperative word here. 'What we think, so we are'... 'It's all in the mind' and countless such adages have made way through the ages. The importance of thinking and the way in which our thoughts influence our actions has always been a subject of study. Do our thoughts have an effect on our mind and thereby on our actions?
They most definitely do. That is why the concept of the subconscious mind and the power that it exerts on all that we do has always been looked upon with awe. And these thoughts that influence our behavior, they aren't merely the happy, rosy, and the always positive thoughts, you know?
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They are both negative and positive. So, just like a positive thought can have a good effect on our behavior and actions, so can a negative thought have an equally detrimental effect on our psyche and thereby influence our behavior and consequently our actions.
Negative thinking can work on different levels, doing incomparable harm. Imagine a person who is constantly thinking about negative things and has only negative thoughts fill his mind. Constant negative thoughts can lead to very detrimental effects.
For one, it can create anxiety and restlessness, it can bring a person down and go on to create a low self-esteem and low self image. It therefore thwarts the growth of a person and prevents him from reaching his full potential.
It is because of this reason that there is a need to know how to prevent and completely stop negative thoughts, and infuse our mind with positive thoughts instead. In the following sections, we will look through how this can be achieved and what are the ways in which we can make this happen.
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Stopping Negative Thinking and Anxiety
There is a combination of methods that one can use in order to gain a mind that is free of negativity and infused with positive thoughts instead. The following are some of the ways of how to stop negative feelings.
Be Aware
First things first: Recognize that you're dealing with negative thoughts and feelings. Don't let them become so ingrained that you can't tell positive from negative. Without acknowledging them, you can't stop them.
Find the Source
...then tackle it. Reflect on why you're experiencing anxiety and negativity. Is it due to uncertainty about a project's outcome? Uncertainty can breed negativity.
Or maybe, is it because you aren't happy with something in your life and that is preventing you from developing a positive self image? When you know what the cause is, it becomes easier to find solutions.
While specific techniques can shift negativity to positivity in certain situations, general methods can also help. Here are a few:
Methods to Tackle Negativity
Positive Affirmations
The subconscious mind influences our thoughts and actions. Learn to give yourself positive affirmations regularly. Constantly remind yourself what you need to hear to drive away negativity.
For instance, if doubt about work success bothers you, repeatedly tell yourself, "I will succeed at [specific task]." Write it down where you'll see it often. This influences the subconscious mind, replacing negativity with positivity.
Not only that, it will also lead to positive actions and success.
Breathing Exercises
Anxiety and negative thoughts can lead to restlessness and negative health effects. Combat this by practicing deep breathing or meditation exercises, which calm the mind and reduce stress.
Another way to deal with negativity is to replace it with something that makes you feel good and instills positivity. Engaging in activities you excel at can provide a sense of accomplishment.
Feeling Good About Yourself
Similarly, doing things that help you relax, like taking a walk, reading, listening to music and the like will help one calm the mind, get rid of the stress and other negative emotions and infuse it with positive thoughts instead.
Negative thoughts can hinder a person's positive self-image and have detrimental effects on performance and personality. It's crucial to learn how to stop negative thoughts and become an optimist instead.
A read through this post and the subsequent execution of the same will help you deal with this problem well enough.