How to Avoid Negative Thoughts

It is no secret that negative thinking is part of almost everyone’s life.

It seems easier to think negative thoughts rather than positive thoughts.

Sometimes, negative thoughts obsess the mind and refuse to leave it. Why does this happen? How to avoid negative thoughts?

Why is there so much negative thinking? People expect the worst to happen, and this is fostered by the media since negative news and disasters get higher rankings.

How to avoid negative thoughts? Is it possible? Continue reading to find out.

What Are the Causes of Negative Thoughts?

Many reasons cause negative thinking and negative thoughts.

The environment in which one grows and lives, parents, teachers, and friends, all shape the mind and make it either prone to negative thinking or positive thinking.

Unpleasant situations, problems, and difficulties arise in everyone’s lives, and these events cause negative thinking.

There are obstacles and problems in life. If you have failed once, you might have the fear that you will fail again.

Once negative thoughts are lodged in your mind, they tend to grow if you don’t stop them immediately.

Often, people are not very aware of their thoughts. Therefore, they get quickly immersed in negative thoughts and moods when listening to the news or people talking about their problems.

It would be an excellent strategy to avoid negative thinking, though, in many cases, it is easier said than done.

How to Avoid Negative Thoughts and Negative Thinking

Here are a few simple techniques that can help you learn how to avoid negative thoughts:

1. Try to be aware of your thoughts. Most often, one thinks in an automatic way, hardly aware of what he or she is thinking.

If you strive to become aware of your thoughts, you will know when you are thinking negative thoughts and therefore, would be in a better position to avoid them.

2. When catching yourself thinking negatively, consciously, try to think of something else, something positive and uplifting.

You might think of a vacation you enjoyed, an inspiring book you have read, or a happy event from the past.

3. Choose to watch happy and funny movies instead of movies about disasters and unhappiness.

Choose movies that make you feel happy and inspired, and avoid the ones that put you into stress or arouse negative emotions.

4. Think often about the good things you have in your life, and less about the bad things.

Count your blessings and think about the good things in your life, not the bad ones.

Look at the filled part of the glass, not the empty part, even if the empty part is bigger than the full.

5. Align your thinking with your actions. When doing something, focus on it. Don’t do one thing while thinking of something else at the same time.

When eating, focus on the act of eating. When dressing, focus on dressing, and when exercising your body, focus on the exercise. In this way, you will not make a place for negative thoughts.

More Ways to Avoid Negative Thoughts

6. Sometimes, during the day, visualize yourself doing something you love doing, like walking or sitting on the beach, visiting a beautiful place, or being in the company of people you love.

You may also think about happy events or successes you had recently. All of these thoughts are positive ways to help you avoid negative thinking.

7. Be aware that sometimes, problems and difficulties are blown out of proportion. Often, these are minor problems and difficulties not worth your time and energy.

Acknowledging this matter can help you avoid negative thinking, when facing problems or difficulties.

8. If negative thoughts persist, write them down, and analyze them to see if there is any truth in them.

9. Don’t fight the thoughts you don’t want or don’t like. If you fight them, they become stronger. A better approach would be treating them with detachment and lack of interest.

10. Surround yourself with positive and happy people and avoid the company of stressful and unhappy people.

I hope you find these tips useful, and that they can help you avoid thinking negative thoughts.