Stop the negative looping thoughts
The year has been an emotional roller coaster ride for us collectively. With safety measures and work from home plans, many have faced increased anxiety and stress. As the year comes close to an end I’d like you to check in with your emotions. How have you been feeling through the year?
Every thought we have causes a cascade of events. Our mind is a powerful device that can make or break us depending on the thoughts we have. A thought we harbor can affect our emotions which will influence the way we make decisions and effect a change in our behavior.
Ever enter a cycle where you don’t feel good and you want to be alone yet you hate it when you’re really alone? We often enter such cycles of negative feelings unknowingly after receiving bad news, criticisms, or judgment from others. Not aware that another’s words have gone into our minds and affected the way we think of ourselves and the world, now it seems like all things are sour and there is just nothing pleasant to look forward to.
When such events happen, what can we do to prevent further negative looping thoughts, and get to a better feeling state?
1. Reframe your Thoughts
Changing something specific and negative to something more general, neutral, and positively skewed.
Examples:
Change “I suck at writing” to “I am learning and I am getting better each time.”
Change “These people don’t like me. They must hate me.” to “I attract the right people and I have people who genuinely care and look out for me.”
Just feel how different it is to read these sentences. Instantly reframing the thoughts you have to one which has a kinder voice has the effect of soothing you and bringing you to a better place of calm.
2. Mood Shifters
Mood shifters are things you can do at the moment to feel vibrant, alive, joyful. In other words, to switch the mood from an unpleasant emotional state to a more joyful and pleasant state through actions. Some suggestions of Mood Shifters include:
Watching a funny video
Listening to your favorite music
Imagining yourself in your favorite place
3. Interrupt the Pattern
What happens when we feel bad? We feel comfortable continuing the negative story of how we are wronged by people, how life is unfair, and more. Interrupt the pattern by doing something that is *not related* to the thought such as:
Drinking a glass of water and really feeling the water moving down your throat
Doing deep belly breaths to get you from the stress system to the rest and relax system
Doing body stretches to get the trapped energy in your body flowing once more
Other resources you can check out: The Tapping Solutions App (which uses Emotional Freedom Technique, also known as Tapping). Keep App (exercise App to get the body moving).
A quote we all are familiar with and is really adept for sticky situations: this too shall pass.
On the tough days, be extra kind to yourself, you’ve got to be your best cheerleader in this world. You’ve got this. You really do :)
Sincerely,
Carina
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