Action Needed!

Negative thinking can become a habit. Those negative thoughts won’t leave until YOU take action. At first you may try to push the negativity away but it doesn’t always work. Here are a few tips on how to get rid of the negativity.

1. GET PHYSICAL. Go for a walk. Take in nature around you. Often our thoughts are a product of our environment. Take a break and change your surroundings. Go for a swim. If you get all of your senses involved – the jolt of the cool water, the smell of chlorine, the sound of splashing – your brain will focus on those things, not the negativity floating in your head.

2. TALK. Call a friend. Go for coffee. Verbally processing the thoughts in our head may help your brain file them away.  There is nothing like a friend who understands and shows empathy in your time of need.  Being “heard” is often half of the battle. A friend may also remind you of the good things in your life, in turn helping reshape those negative thoughts into positive ones.

3. REFLECT. Take a moment to reflect on the positive in your life. Make a “grateful” or “thankful” list.  Taking some time to focus on the good things in your life is another great way to reshape your thoughts.  The perceived reality of the negative things can be shifted when you reflect on the blessings.

4. GET CREATIVE or PRODUCTIVE. Dive into a project. Color. Draw. Paint. Expressing yourself through art is proven to help improve self-esteem and reduce anxiety.  Getting creative is another way to begin to shift the negative into positive…or maybe into the  “it’s not so bad” category.  Exploring your feelings through art is very therapeutic and will elevate your mood.

 

 

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