By Staff Writer: Caitlin Daugherty
Have you ever dropped a cup of water, knocked over an expensive vase, or dropped an egg on the floor? Have you ever thought, “God, I’m so stupid. I can’t believe I did that. I must be the worst human being on the planet.” These thought patterns gravely affect your mental health in ways you might not have thought of.
Negative thoughts for some individuals can completely take over their lives. Lying awake at night, cringing over bad decisions, and beating yourself up over small choices you’ve made can devastate your psyche over time. Pretty soon, your perception will change, and everything you observe will be in a negative light.
There is a way to prevent negative thoughts from overrunning your life. This practice stems from mindfulness, allowing you to separate your thoughts from yourself. You can safely observe negativity without letting it engulf you. You can even name your negative thoughts. For example, “Oh, that’s just Anxious Andy again.” Any name can work.
The next step for negative thoughts is realizing they are just thoughts. They don’t reflect who you are as a person, and you should acknowledge that they are simply thoughts that occur every day. Do not let yourself get sucked into your worries or fears. Writing out your negative thoughts and repeating them aloud can lessen your reaction to them. You can realize that your negative thoughts are silly and not necessary.
Finally, understand that you are not a bad person for succumbing to negative thought patterns occasionally. To heal, you must have a setback at one point or another. Remember to be gentle with yourself and that overcoming negativity and anxiety is not straightforward.