Life would be much more enjoyable if we could only recognize our poor thinking patterns and replace them with more positive thoughts.
Negativity has a way of making its way into our thoughts and it largely goes unrecognized. The most important first step to changing your negative thoughts is to notice when they creep in and eliminate them on the spot.
If you immediately replace those negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll notice a tangible change in every aspect of your life.
Change your negative thoughts into positive ones by eliminating these deadly thinking sins:
1. “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
The truth is you’re never going to feel like doing what needs to be done. We all fool ourselves into thinking there will be a better time in the near future.
* Anything you’re putting off isn’t going to get any easier.
* The most successful people are very good at taking care of the most important tasks at hand. Some things are uncomfortable, and it’s necessary to push through that discomfort. Start with baby steps and build up your tolerance for discomfort!
2. “I can’t do this. I can’t stick with anything.”
If you don’t think you can do something, you’ll probably prove yourself right. This is especially true with the big stuff.
* Remember that it’s not about discipline. It’s really about focus and motivation.
* Tell yourself that you can do it. Remind yourself that it’s more about getting motivated and applying yourself consistently. Discipline is only a good tool in the short-term. Limit yourself to one big goal and get excited about it.
3. Thinking that someone else’s success impacts you negatively.
It’s erroneous to believe that only a limited number of people can be successful. There’s room for everyone.
* It might be lonelier at the top, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for you. You can be successful too.
* When others do well, you’re actually better off being happy for them. You can examine their success and learn from it. You’ll also come to believe that others will be happy when you’re successful.
4. “It’s too late for me.”
We all have missed opportunities from our past, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late. People in their 60’s have attended medical school and law school. Others don’t get married or have children until later in life.
* Some things do take a significant amount of time to achieve, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get started today.
5. “I’ll never be successful.”
Everyone fails at something along the way to success. The good news is that failure can be the best way to learn. But focusing on your failures just causes you to feel bad all the time.
* Focus your attention on your successes. Look back over your past and remember all the times you were successful. Make a list of your past successes and add your new successes to the list as they happen.
6. “Why is this happening again?”
Unpleasant things just happen. It’s a normal part of life. However, just like our failures, if we spend our time dwelling on them, we make ourselves miserable.
* We all suffer at times, but that suffering passes and makes room for positive things. Avoid dwelling on the negative and look forward to better times.
7. “I can be happy once I have (accomplished or earned) ______.”
It’s unreasonable to hold yourself back from happiness until you’ve achieved some milestone. Unfortunately, once that goal is reached, there are more goals that follow. Putting off your happiness can become a harmful habit.
* It’s important to learn to be happy with where you are and what you have. That doesn’t mean you have to be completely satisfied, but you might as well be happy in the meantime.
Negative thoughts have an enormous impact on your happiness and success.
It’s important to recognize these negative thought patterns and squash them immediately. Replace these negative thoughts with thoughts that are more realistic and supportive. You’ll be glad you did!
I want to hear from you!
What are some of the ways you turn negative thoughts into positive ones? Please join the discussion in the comments section below.
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Comments 34
Guilty as charged
I’m guilty of a few of these, mostly from some past huge flops, it can make you much more cautious, but you don’t want that to turn into a negative script.
I’m guilty of a few of these, particularly the ‘I will be happy once…’ one. Great post and suggestions – really helpful!
I have really bee studying Gods word on this subject for the last couple of weeks. I am really enjoying it and I am going to continue until I overcome this in my life. Thank you for sharing
I am guility….
they are gret suggestions
I’m really guilty of these thoughts, especially the first one. I know I should do the thing I said I would do but I don’t want to and I keep putting it off for another time.
These are great suggestions. I read one time that if I change my thoughts my feelings will also change. I started practicing doing that and it is so true. It takes consciously doing so however it is so worth it.
Thanks for your wonderful reminders.
eliminating negative thoughts on the spot,very powerful
I am so guilty!!! one, four and seven yep, things I need to overcome
I have been working on this for weeks now, I started meditating and saying daily affirmations it has helped me a lot.
I agree that it’s never helpful to think that someone else’s success hampers your own. Being happy for others really helps our own moods and motivates us I think.
I’m guilty of #7. In real life you just have to remember once one goal is met, there’s more to follow.
These are good things to keep in mind.
I believe wholeheartedly in the theory that negative thoughts can effect you physically,been there..positivity is our friend
I am guilty of some of these. Sadly enough.
Yes! I agree with this article 100%!
what an inspiring post…. need myself a self introspection…. thanks
I enjoyed this article so much. I have been practicing this every day. When my young son passed away these terrible thoughts would come into my mind. I immediately worked on changing those thoughts. I have been practicing this ever since with everything. God is so good. I just stay focused on Him and He always blesses me. Thank you so much for sharing
Someone’s mindset means a lot. You can make or ruin someone else’s day by your own attitude.
I am guilty of procrastinating.I guess I mean well when I sayI am going to do something but often put it off until I forget about it.
Wow, this is such a powerful article and it really hits home for me because I’m always thinking negative thoughts, what I try to do when I catch myself being negative is (silly as it may sound) start humming a happy song to uplight my spirits and then think come up with a plan to turn that negative into something positive.
I’m guilty as charged, lol. These are great tips. Thanks for posting!
Yes i think negatively so much
Yes I’m definitely guilty! This is actually my News Years Resolution. It was to maintain a clear and positive mindset consistently! It’s been tough but doing so much better than I was in 2016! Thanks for sharing!
I fail at number 1! I am the queen of procrastination. I will work on that tomorrow 😉 the other things I am much better about. However, putting things off is always an issue and makes the rest of the tips harder.
The Sad thing the thoughts are of course are negative and lack of confidence sure hits home for me.
Yes. I’m in my 30’s but for the last several months have felt old. I know I’m not old but I’m so tired and life feels like a game of dodge ball where you are playing constantly ducking trying not to get hit.
When I was a choir director over elementary aged kids, I used to tell them that Can’t is a curse word and asked them not to use it in my presence. I am guilty of the tomorrow thing. I think sometimes we doubt in ourselves and our true potential though we are built strong to be able to handle and take on anything.
I am so, so guilty of #7. I’ll be happy when I (blah, blah, blah)…(it probably changes daily!) This is such a waste of my energy to even think this way! I recently made a sign for my studio space that says: “Love where you are at”…grammar issues aside, it’s such a great reminder to enjoy this stage instead of looking for the next one. Thanks so much for such a great list!
Yes, I am definitely guilty of thinking this way from time to time. Lately I am guitly of saying/thinking I can do this tomorrow. I know that this is toxic and that it causes myself so much added stress by procrastinating. Thank you for these reminders!
There is no doubt that positive thinking is key to strong mental health but I don’t think that people realize how much negative thinking they do. It is so true that once you replace negative thinking with positive thinking you will get positive results. Being a person who has my own personal war with bipolar I have to remind myself of this every day. Thank you for a great post.
At 35, I got divorced, moved abroad, traveled, and built a successful career. Since then, I’ve met someone, fell in love, got married, and started my own media company. Now we’re restoring a city centre apartment to the standard of our dreams. People often ask me how I managed all of this and I don’t have any big secret, it’s just that I never consider failure as an option. I approach everything with expectations of success, and it manifests.
Printing these out. I need these as daily reminders for sure. I have been really trying hard to think positively this year. This week has been really rough. I will be focusing on these. Thank you!
Whenever I feel myself thinking negatively, I take a moment to reassess why I’m having those thoughts. All the 7 negative thoughts you mentioned are very toxic. I generally look at the positive spectrum of things so negative thoughts don’t typically stay on my mind for long, fortunately.