What is negativity or negative thoughts? These are thoughts we have almost instantly when faced with a choice or a decision. They tell us we can’t, or we aren’t good enough, they put doubt in our abilities. Are you plagued by negativity? Always finding a reason not to do something because of the negative impact you perceive about the outcome? These thoughts are habitual and often happen within the subconscious mind, without notice to our consciousness.
How do we resolve our negative thoughts when they become a problem or a hindrance in living our lives? It is not as simple as some would have us believe. One does not simply change or stop a habit. A habit by definition must be replaced with an opposing habit so the original fades into the background. It can take up to 21 days to completely replace a habit by methodically and consciously acting on the new habit.
Negative thoughts are the brains way of continuing to keep us safe from harm. The problem lies in the fact that the brain cannot determine harm, only different. It perceives a change in physiological reaction as danger, a rise in temperature, an increase in heartbeat and respiration, all of which mimic the emotional response to both fear and excitement. It is our conscious job to remind our brain that we are feeling excited or nervous and that we are not in danger of harm.
How do we turn our negative thought patterns into a positive behaviour? We must be mindful of our thoughts, we must be mindful and in tune of the here and now so we can put a stop to the negative pattern. Start with a morning routine of gratitude, write down in a journal or notebook three or more things that you are grateful for in your life. Science shows that when we focus on the good things in our life our mood can be uplifted and we seek out ways to be more positive in our outlook.
Start a mindful practice, be conscious of where you are and who you are with. Take an inventory of your emotions in every situation, upon waking, heading out to work or our activities for the day. Be aware of those we are with and who we are around and how we are feeling in their presence. If you find you are feeling overwhelmed in a particular situation, take a time out, find a quiet space or an open space and breathe deeply. Notice how your body feels after the breathing practice, acknowledge the change and then reassure yourself that all is well before you head back to your group.
This weeks challenge is to implement a gratitude practice into your daily routine. Let us know how you go in the comments or over on the facebook page @chrysalis1consulting – let’s get a conversation started.
Restoring my soul. 