Stop fighting negative thoughts.

Negative thoughts are normal, they are an intrinsic part of the human condition.

They are sometimes helpful as they give you the worst case scenario, preparing you for every event.

In his book, The Happiness Trap, author Russ Harris says 80% of our thoughts contain some sort of negative content. So it’s entirely normal to have negative thoughts.

It’s part of our evolutionary heritage.

We’re constantly scanning our environment (generating negative thoughts all the while) looking for problems to fix. The problem isn’t negative thoughts but instead how we decide to use them.

How to use negative thoughts for good

1.Acknowledge negative thoughts but reinforce your control

There is nothing more liberating than feeling an emotion, for example, fear and then dismissing it one you have logically deconstructed it.

Show your brain who is boss and constantly rein power through this logical process. Your emotions should not be controlling you.

2. Have negative thoughts? Do it anyway

Feeling anxious? Scared? Remember you can have a thought and perform any kind of behaviour at the same time.

If its something you want to do, it’s worth just letting your thought float away. It takes practice to diffuse an emotion and not let it prevent you from taking action but once this is mastered, it’s a life long trick for success.

Remember if something (career related) scares you, it’s often a sign that you should step out of your comfort zone and just do it.

3. Be grateful

Thank your mind for protecting you through anxious or over cautious thoughts  but, always remember and reinstate (though self talk) that you have a handle on the situation.

This is another form of self empowerment but instead, it helps you to understand where negative thoughts come from. Your thoughts are not the enemy, more often then not they are trying to help you but, it’s up to you to make the final decision on their rationality.