We all have negative thoughts from time to time. Some, more than others. It is not possible to think positively 24/7 (I know that!). Sometimes the negative thoughts take over and we find ourselves stuck in a negative spiral.
I read something interesting a while back that explained about trying to catch yourself before you over think; it was called ‘The Snowball Effect ‘. If you continue thinking and thinking about the same thing that is bothering you it will keep growing. Even when you stop thinking about it you will surely think about it soon enough! This is not healthy and it can ruin your day because you cannot concentrate when it keeps coming up.
There have been situations where I start my day off thinking about the thing that has bothered me and it has made the rest of the day feel pretty negative. I’m not saying we should ignore it but acknowledge it and find a solution before it becomes a snowball. Sometimes we may not find a solution and so we just have to accept it.
I find when I begin to over think about something negative I catch myself and say in my head that I’ve already thought about this before and I am letting it go. It’s not easy because we often feel that it’ll give us reassurance if we keep thinking about it but that’s the opposite.
Writing the negative thoughts down can also feel like a relief. Sometimes it’s good to have a point in the day where you schedule time to think about the thing that is bothering you write it down and find a solution or let it go. Just don’t let it take over your whole day or evening. It’s so hard to quieten the mind. Perhaps practicing a bit of mediation or something mindful will put you at ease.
Ask yourself; will this matter in a year? I’ve found this so helpful as it usually won’t! Focus on the positive and remember not to let it snowball.
Time to be positive 