Negative thinking can lead us to anxiety, depression, and anger. Often, negative thinking is a part of a pattern when someone is feeling depressed. When someone abuses drugs or alcohol, negative thinking will linger without a program of recovery. Negative thinking affects a person’s overall outlook and mood. When negative thinking patterns become chronic and persistent, they become “ANTS”, which means “Automatic Negative Thoughts”.
As a mental health clinician, I work to teach clients, a concept called Cognitive Restructuring, which is to teach the client how to counter negative thought patterns.
Here are a few suggestions you can do on a daily basis to safeguard your mind and spirit against negative thinking:
Start your day by sitting down in a quiet space and think about the day. Try to write down five things you are grateful for in your life.
Spend between five to ten minutes in prayer and meditation and see what comes forward for you, notice your thoughts. If you find yourself, dwelling on a negative thought than give yourself permission to counter the negative thought with a positive thought.
Try to inhale from the bottom of your lungs to the top of your lungs and hold for a count of two and then slowly exhale all of the air out of your lungs for a count of seven.
Try this for one week or two weeks and see how your attitude, mood, and thinking change.
To learn more about the impact of negative thinking refer to Daniel G.Amen’s book, “Change your Brain Change your Life.”
