Page 70 - Holistic Horizons - 7
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is to change the thought patterns by understanding ourselves better and understanding where the
negative thoughts originate from.
Some of the more effective ways of overcoming negative thinking are as follows:
1. Dwell deeper: Try to find out what is causing you to think negatively.
2. Face your underlying fears and insecurities: Our fears and insecurities tend to distort the way
we look at and think about things.
3. Recognise your negative thought patterns: Try and learn to distinguish between thoughts and
facts. The real problem is believing all the negative thoughts to be the truth.
4. Avoid apprehensions: Instead of focussing on our present, we tend to worry about all the terrible
things that could happen to us in the future, even when there is no way of knowing whether these
things will actually happen or not.
5. Look for solutions: Repeatedly thinking about problems and worrying doesn’t help. It is better
to learn from our past mistakes and alter our current behaviour for good by adopting a solution-
focussed approach.
6. Stop paying too much attention to negative thoughts: The more you focus on a negative
thought and discuss it with others, the longer it will stay with you.
7. Spend more time with positive people: The company we keep is a big influence on our thinking.
8. Reality check: Overthinking and worrying makes us interpret reality inaccurately. It is better to
keep asking yourself if what you are thinking is indeed correct or is it just your mind making up
things because of your negative thoughts.
FOCUS TASK
Here are some positive affirmations for you to practice when you find negative thoughts overtaking you:
• I am smarter than my mistakes.
• I can do better if I work hard.
• I am proud of all that I am able to do.
• I choose to be the bigger person.
Which of these best fit your current mindset and why? Explain in a few lines.
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