I'd like to invite everyone reading this to join in on a challenge with me.
First of all, I'd like you to take the time to read an article I wrote a few years ago called You Are What You Think. Take note of whether you see yourself in any of the examples mentioned and review the strategies recommended for those thought patterns.
Now, here's the challenge. Over the next week or so, make it a point to watch for those negative thought patterns in yourself; and, as soon as you catch yourself thinking those thoughts, apply the strategies given. Watch to see what effect it has on how you feel when you shift your thinking to something more positive. Did you feel better? Worse? No effect?
Finally, I'd like you to report back here and leave a comment about your experiences. I am going to insist on one thing, however. If you want to leave a comment, you have to have given it an honest try. No comments about how this could never work unless you've already given it your best shot and it failed to help you.
Related Articles:
Great article, I’m guilty of emotional reasoning and labelling and misslabeling. I’m going to give this a real go.
I have been using positive thinking now for about a week and it seems like things are really looking up for me. I’m getting married in Oct., so it’s been a stressful time but as long as I keep positive thoughts in my head, it keeps the depression at bay!
For some reason the list is blank but I can see the rest of the article. Does anyone else have this problem?
I think negatively because, I guess, I have reasons to. Some of my big problems were solved, some weren’t. But they keep piling up, my impression is that I’m at the bottom of a deep fountain, I manage to climb up to the rim but I fall back every time or I’m pushed back. I’ll try though to change my way of thinking.
The article and the comments may also help.Eve.
This is a great day and I am in love with life. I have the joy of being president of the Positive People Partners and the Center Of Unconditional Love. We have designed a positive, pro-active, preventive health and wellness plan for healthy, happy, distress-free living. We have asked you several times to review the plan for your own life. We have asked you to respond and share your thoughts. We have asked you to ask questions. We have not met with success. We are looking for individual volunteers to help us celebrate Forgiveness Week and National Forgiveness Day (Oct. 31) by sending copies of our “Power Of Love Joy Of Forgiveness No More Stress Just Happiness” health and wellness plan to as many people as possible by email, blogs, or in person. Would you like to volunteer? Would you like to ask others to volunteer?
I have heard in the past about positive thinking. It works for me, as far as cheering me up goes. But I still have the daily battles within myself. I have to constantly tell myself not to think that way. Although it has gotten easier to do, some mornings I forget to tell myself first thing that today is going to be a good day no matter what. I have to tell myself that so I don’t prolong any bad feelings I wake up with…..
as far as i know ‘Depression’ is an Illness & not a behavioural trait. well, some things like negative thinking MAY lead to depression but, i think once it’s there we should focus on Treating It rather than ‘beating around the bush’. thanks.
as far as i know ‘Depression’ is an Illness & not a behavioural trait. somethings like negative thinking may lead to it but, once it’s there i think that we should start treating it rather than ‘beating around the bush’.
I have been using positive thinking now for about a week and it seems like things are really looking up for me. I’m getting married in Oct., so it’s been a stressful time but as long as I keep positive thoughts in my head, it keeps the depression at bay!
what a non Sense…
the cause and the state is
Immobility , Incapacity of doing anything
there is only one way to get out:
Energy, Excercise, complete change of the entire environment
you need a very experienced coach to do that
anything else may be Opium…
I have written positive statements on 3 x 5 note cards. I plan to read them several times a day and see if that helps me see life in a different light. I will report back in a week to see how I feel and if my way of thinking has changed. Thank you for this challenge!
I find that being around friends, away from every day situations. Encouraging me to relax, forgetting negative situations, that occure when with family 24/7. Going for long walks, or putting head phones on, and listening to relaxing music, deffiently helps me unwind and relax. They are tips that were given to me by my Dr and psycholigist.
the author mentions All-or-Nothing Thinking. What about Catastrophic Thinking? I think I have heard of that in connection with cognitive therapy and I think I do this quite a lot, i.e., assume the worst possible outcomes, even if they are objectively unlikley. I try to tell myself I am insulating myself for bad news, if it comes.
I would be surprised if this experiment worked. From my past experience feeling good will be temporary since feeling bad is what your true aim is all about. You think you want to feel good but deep inside you are hanging on to your depression as much as it is hanging on to you. You have to let go of it before you can command it to let go of you. It would be interesting to hear how many people experience this in just this way. I wrote a poem about it with these lines in it. “Depression is an addiction, a banquet set up for two. You feed on it and it feeds on you”
With your permission, YOU can cure it. Mind over body. It can chemically rewire your brain.
i tried it and it works to help get me out of suicidal thoughts…..thanks for the tips…i agree that it takes more then this but this helps alot..
Always being positive is a strength which comes from within..think about positivity, live in a life where everything is positive….just load a positive custom homepage and start your web journey with it…www.sleeksearch.com…
Believe me, it will you more power…
I have been thinking that way my entire life..being diagnosed with ocd and depression recently and starting Cognitive behavioral therapy its hard to change my way of thinking but i know i can do it.
That’s positive thinking right there..
I cant help but to appreciate the great work of positive thinking through cognitive therapy. As a counselor working with clients who are in most cases overwhelmed with irrational thoughts, I acknowledge your work because through it I am more skillful to face another session… I’m grateful.
I was in therapy for depression and suicidal thoughts and this was the first thing we talked about, increasing positive thoughts. It isn’t a method to try and “cure” depression but for me it is a great coping method to improve my days. It is very hard to change your thinking and this is why writing positive thoughts down and reading them everyday is a good way to make yourself think positively until you can do it easier on your own. Negative thoughts are still an everyday battle but I encourage everyone to try this, if you keep on top of reading your positive thoughts everyday it makes a BIG difference