Have you ever found yourself drowning in negative thoughts?
Your mindset and beliefs influence the neurons in your brain, thus influencing your words and actions. In turn, these words and actions influence your brain creating a feedback loop based on this mindset. That is why recognizing the harmful thoughts and stopping them in their tracks is so important.
In the book, Think, Learn, Succeed: Understanding and Using Your Mind to Thrive at School, the Workplace, and Life, Dr. Caroline Leaf that, “A growing body of evidence shows how our thought lives have an incredible power over our intellectual, cognitive, emotional and physical well-being. Our thoughts can either limit us to what we believe we can do or free us to develop abilities well beyond our expectations or the expectations of others.”
To overcome this, I have established the 5 S thought model of redirecting our negative thoughts:
- Spot the negative or destructive thought.
- Stop. Visualize a stop sign and tell yourself to stop thinking that thought.
- Stand. Recognize the destructiveness of the thought and takea a firm stance against it.
- Substitute the negative thought for a positive thought or for a healthy distraction.
- Seek help and guidance from someone if the negative thoughts become too overwhelming.
This week, take focused time to evaluate your thoughts in real-time and practice the 5 S model when needed.
