Human Biology and Fear
We are social animals, and this means two things:- We have a biological drive to seek validation from others, so we try to please others for survival.((PsychCentral: What Drives Our Need For Approval?))
- We are biologically programmed to look for danger, so we focus on the negatives to help our survival.((VeryWellMind: What Is the Negativity Bias?))
Why Does This Get Out of Control?
Sometimes our thoughts are so backed up by our insecurities, that they create lies we believe. We all know that they are just thoughts and aren't facts. They are normally routed in the form of "I am not good enough", and they are rooted in fear. Fear is the root of self-hate. We are always afraid of being rejected, and it drives most of our unhealthy thoughts. You are not your thoughts, and you are not your fears. They are like newspaper articles or the opinions of someone else: they are not who you really are. They are just a construction of the world you live in.10 Ways to Get Rid of Your Unhealthy Thoughts:
1. Dissociation
I want you to picture your negative thoughts not as truth but as opinions. Here is the difference:- Truth: that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.
- Opinion: a view or judgment formed about something that is not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
2. Meditation
Meditation is a great way to sit with your thoughts and feelings. We were always taught to hide our feelings and be strong, but this only leads to mental health issues. Instead, we should learn meditation. It is not just sitting down and closing your eyes and thinking of nothing. But it is more about giving your mind a break so it can relax and breathe for a moment. Meditation is one of the best things you can do due to its numerous benefits. Read this article to know more about the benefits of meditation: How Meditation Can Help to Improve Your Productivity.3. Emotional Clearing
Emotional clearing is about being with your feelings, and feeling them fully and letting them go. Your thoughts are rooted in your emotions. Sit with them; negotiate with them. What is an opinion? What is a fact? What is helpful? What is not? Why are you feeling this way? A simple way to process this is to go through all of your negative emotions and clear them systematically. Start with fear: identify all your fears, feel them and reassure yourself that you are safe. Then move on and deal with guilt, shame, loss, denial, and loneliness. If you are attempting to clear your feelings, remember that anger is just a front, a bodyguard for another feeling. So, when you are looking into your anger, try to focus on why you are sad, and you will find the peace that you are looking for.4. Mental Correction
When you are faced with an unhealthy thought, correct yourself. Let go of the unhealthy parts of your thoughts because they do not serve you well. Instead, replace it with a more positive statement: I am not *insert unhealthy thought*, I am *insert positive thought*. For example: I am not good enough because I did not get this job interview. I did not get this job interview, and this is okay. I am still safe, and it just means that it was not meant for me. It is not a critique of my self-worth, and I am still worthy.5. Journaling
Journaling is a great way to process through all of your negative thoughts. Write down what your thoughts then deconstruct them. Why do you feel that way? Is it truth or just an opinion from your preexisting belief system? How can you turn it into something positive? Unhealthy thoughts go away when you face them and change them. Your best bet is to take their power away and reclaim it. It may be difficult to start the habit of journaling if you are not yet used to doing it. But the benefits of journaling makes it very worthwhile. To know more about how journaling can help you, you can check out this article: 10 Ways Journaling Can Improve Your Life.6. Practicing Gratitude
If you are struggling with unhealthy thoughts, practicing gratitude is one way to cure this problem. You can easily practice gratitude. You just have to sit down and think of all the things you are grateful for. You can express them, write them down or post them on social media. Practicing gratitude is the secret to happiness because by practicing gratitude, you switch your mindset from negative to positive. This will change your feeling from lacking and not being good enough to abundance and fulfillment. If you are having negative thoughts about another person, practice gratitude and view towards that person will change.7. Understanding That You Are Enough
You need to understand that nobody is perfect, so you do not have to be perfect. You are good enough as you are, and there is nothing wrong with that. There is always space to grow, learn, and change, but comparing yourself to someone else will only bring you unhappiness. Succumbing to your expectations of yourself and berating yourself for failing, will bring you nothing but dissatisfaction. You are good enough, and not everyone will see that but that does not matter. All that matters is that you know that you are good enough. Once you encourage this mindset, your life will change. Every adversity you will face will change because your self-worth would not on the line anymore. You are enough as you are, and it is only someone else's opinion that you are not but never a fact.8. Positive Affirmations
Positive affirmation can be very powerful, though sometimes not right away. But when you need them, they can change your perspective. Pick an affirmation. This can be a saying, an expression or a quote that you relate to. Choose one that makes you feel strong, powerful, and positive. Write it down, and say it out loud while focusing on that feeling.9. Identifying Triggers
External influences can trigger negative thoughts. To prevent them from happening again, identify the triggers. Start recording what you were doing when the unhealthy thoughts occur. Identify triggers so you can either avoid them or create a healthy way to deal with them. Once you know what's throwing your thoughts off, you will be able to do something about it. This also goes the other way. You can prevent negative thoughts by thinking of positive ones. Also knowing your "joy triggers" will help you avoid negativity. Read this article to learn more about finding your joy triggers: Wanna Be Happier? Know Your Joy Triggers.10. Self-Care Routine
A good way to keep your mental health in a good place is to have a good self-care routine. First thing is to make sure that you exercise regularly so your brain chemistry works with you. When you exercise, your body releases Endorphins, Dopamine, Serotonin, and Oxytocin.- Endorphins mask physical pain and promote feelings of happiness.
- Dopamine boosts our mood and makes us feel great. It contributes to the feeling of accomplishment and elation from completing a task, achieving a goal, or winning a game.
- Serotonin boosts our confidence and makes us feel awesome. It also elicits a sense of pride, status, and gratitude.
- Oxytocin invokes feelings of love and loyalty. This chemical drives us to be around people we like and trust.
Final Thoughts
The most important thing is that you do no beat yourself up for having bad thoughts. They are normal, not only because of our biology but because of the society we live in. If you find yourself berating yourself for having unhealthy thoughts, practice all the steps in this article. Lastly, take a deep breath and repeat to yourself: This is normal. I am not perfect, and that is okay.More Tips About Thinking Positive
- 10 Ways to Remove Negative Thoughts From Your Mind
- How to Turn Off Negative Thoughts in Your Mind
- How to Stop the Negative Spin of Thoughts, Emotions, and Actions
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