Six Tips For Turning Negative Thoughts Into Positive Ones

Average:

Your rating: None Average: 2.8 (6 votes)

No matter how positive you are, there is probably at least one negative feeling or thought that creeps into your mind on a daily basis. Negative thoughts have many origins. They can develop from not feeling well, experiencing low self-esteem, or doubting one's self. Considering the fact that this happens to everyone, how do some people appear to be more successful at turning negative thoughts into positive ones before the negativity grows and becomes counterproductive? This article provides some tips on squelching negative thoughts before they have a chance to fester and erupt.

1. When a negative thought comes into your head, take a minute to understand and assess where it is coming from. If it is an issue or problem that you have control over, take a few minutes and develop a strategy to resolve it. If you can't control the issue or problem, accept it to the greatest degree possible and move on. You don't want to spend time being negative over things in which you have no control.

2. When negative thoughts creep into your head, acknowledge them for what they are. Explore all facets of the negative thoughts, as you may be able to learn from them. Perhaps the negative thoughts are providing an opportunity to identify and explore possible solutions to an issue or problem. We often learn most from experiencing and working through negative situations or perceived failures.

3. A strategy I use quite often is that when a negative thought creeps into my head, I quickly turn it into a positive thought. I do this for thoughts over which I have no control or for those that bombard me repeatedly. For example, if I have a thought that I might not succeed in developing a lucrative business, I automatically think about my strengths, skills, and attributes. This helps me to realize that I do have the skills and experience necessary to successfully help individuals to resolve issues, achieve goals, or make significant changes in their personal or professional lives.

4. Develop a list of positive affirmations and post them in a location where you see them daily, such as your bathroom or kitchen. Review these affirmations first thing in the morning and right before you go to bed. This should help you to start your day in a positive manner and help you to relax in the evening. Develop a list of affirmations that is unique to you; one that reflects your values, talents, skills, strengths, attributes, and those things for which you are most thankful. When you focus on positive items, the negative ones will have less of an opportunity to invade your thoughts.

5. Be grateful for what you have in life. Avoid thinking about what you don't have or possess. When I think about the economy and that business is slow, I am still thankful for having a roof over my head, food to replenish my body, and clothes on my back. Some people take these things for granted; I do not. There will always be someone who is worse off than you, so try to be as grateful as possible for what you do have. When you exude gratefulness, you can't help but being positive.

6. Say no to negative feelings and thoughts. You need to realize that you do have control over how you feel about people, situations, and events. So, no matter how much someone offends you or how bad a situation was, try to avoid letting it have a negative effect on you. Vent, take a deep breath, and turn your thoughts to positive ones. Your day will be much better if you do.

So the next time a negative thought creeps into your mind, think about where it might be coming from and try to learn from it. Give it the time it needs but avoid dwelling on it. Try to convert negative thoughts into positive ones as quickly as possible, develop a list of affirmations and review them daily, remind yourself of those things for which you are grateful on a daily basis, and learn that you can turn negative thoughts into positive ones, as you are the one who has ultimate control over your thoughts and feelings.

Author's Bio:

If you want to make positive changes in your personal and/or professional life, and create the life you desire and deserve, then working with Executive & Life Coach, Sharon L. Mikrut, is the solution. Although her specialty is in partnering with nonprofit executive directors and managers to maximize their resources in a competitive environment, she is passionate about working with all individuals committed to personal and/or professional growth. Visit her website at http://www.createitcoaching.org or Empowerment blog at http://www.createitcoaching.net and sign up for her free monthly messages, which are designed to help you take control and create positive changes in your life.

Lyndsey Shaffer (Success Principles)

Excellent article!

Sharon Mikrut (Executive Coach and Executive Coaching)

Thanks, Lyndsey!

Tom Wright (Transformation)

And to expand upon your great work, in addition to thoughts, there's the body and the love we have for ourselves that originates in many places of the body, hence doing The Loving Process(c) To take love from thought to visceral experience is vital to our vitality! Love and Light, TB Wright.

I absolutely agree, TB!

Saying yes to, and allowing in, all our good, is so important. So is The Loving Process(c) To do it every day is important. Love and Light, TB Wright.

Hi TB, I agree. I always try to think of the positives, which is easy when I realize how grateful I am for what I do have.

Rose Bush (Personal Finance)

I remember the advice given about taking a negative thought and turning it completely around - your article made me think of this. I struggle with controlling the negative thoughts in my head and always welcome articles that provide helpful advice - just like yours.

Hi Rose, I am glad that my article was helpful. I have learned over the years that if you give negative thoughts and feelings too much time, they will grow and fester. I have also learned that you have total control over allowing these negative thoughts and feelings to take over. Once I knew I was in control, I started turning negative thoughts and feelings around. At first this was a bit difficult but now I can do it within a couple of seconds. That is because I refuse to give time to negative things... I would rather focus on the positive. And, there are so many positive things in my life that I am grateful for. That is now where I focus my time and energy. Turning negative thoughts into positive ones can be done but you need to work on it every day. Eventually, you won't even have to think about it... it'll just happen. Anyhow, I hope that you have a great day! Sharon

So it is possible to master the loa so that your life can be the life of your dreams? This is definitely what I want! I'm getting it that its the negative thoughts that are holding us back - right?

Hi Rose, Yes, it is the negative thoughts which keep us down or sad/depressed. But, we do have control over our thoughts and feelings. Once we realize this and turn the negatives into positives, the transformation is amazing!

I definitely liked what you said about when negative thoughts creep in you turn it around and think of something positive and you think about the things that you are grateful for. I have seen this kind of advice over and over again. So simple yet so hard to follow and it must be the reason why I keep seeing it over and over again - LOA is trying to tell me something and that is to do what you yourself have said that you are doing - that is - keeping positive and focusing on what you are grateful for! It's hard for me but I kind of know that the reason why I'm feeling the way that I do is because I'm basing things on what is surrounding me now instead of focusing on what I WANT to surround me now.

Renee Allert (Digestive Wellness)

Good suggestions, tks

You're welcome, Renee! Sharon

As always, you are welcome. Have a great day! Sharon