| Over the years, I have noticed that some of the | | | | How often do you negative thoughts arise? |
| most common, most painful, and most challenging | | | | What is the effect that they have had on your |
| blocks stem from thinking patterns. Often, it's not | | | | life and your attitude, your ability to really enjoy |
| our outside circumstances, our luck, our families or | | | | yourself? |
| our businesses that keep us stuck. Instead, what | | | | You CAN break the habit of your negative |
| tends to hold us back and hurt us the most | | | | thinking patterns and turn them around. Here is a |
| comes from deep inside - from our ways, in fact | | | | simple and tested 3-step process I developed for |
| our patterns, of negative thinking. | | | | shifting from those negative thoughts to positive |
| When a negative thinking pattern gets activated, | | | | ones that encourage a joyful experience of life!: |
| outside circumstance and rationale fade away, and | | | | 1) Isolate and Track Your Negative Thoughts: So |
| those judgment-based, guilt-laden, chaos-seeking | | | | often, we move through our days without even |
| inner voices take over to color reality. | | | | being aware the damage that our negative |
| Some of the most popular examples of negative | | | | thinking patterns are doing. You can make a lot of |
| thinking patterns include: | | | | progress by simply training your mind |
| · You have way fewer clients scheduled | | | | acknowledge them. The more that you can see |
| for the week than you'd like, and you say to | | | | your negative thoughts, the more you will bring |
| yourself: "I just don't have the ability to be | | | | them out of your blind-spot where they can do |
| successful" | | | | the most damage. Becoming a detective around |
| · You're having trouble getting interviews | | | | your negative thoughts will allow you to see them |
| for a new job, and think: "I'll be stuck in this job | | | | much more clearly, then giving you the freedom |
| forever" | | | | and choice to change them. A great tool is to |
| · You go on a less-than-perfect first date | | | | keep a log of all the negative thoughts that come |
| and then decide: "I'll never fall in love with the right | | | | up for you in a 24-hour period, including: |
| person" | | | | - the date and time. |
| · Your project is moving very slowly, so | | | | - the negative thought you had (I'll never make |
| you conclude: "It's impossible for me to get | | | | enough money, or I'll never live in a place that I |
| ahead" | | | | love or I'll be stuck in this job forever). |
| These negative thoughts all have something | | | | - any details that seem important: if you had that |
| important in common: They are created around a | | | | thought while comparing yourself to a specific |
| story that is an absolute truth about the future. | | | | person, while visiting family, while working, when |
| Using words like "never" or "always" are good | | | | you are tired or hungry. |
| clues that you have become stuck in absolute | | | | 2) Create an Action-Based Alternative Thought |
| negatives. For example: "This will never happen"; | | | | for Yourself: This is where the "re-wiring" comes |
| or "Things will always be this way". | | | | in to play. Once you are aware of your negative |
| If you are someone who experiences negative | | | | thoughts and how they function, you then have |
| thinking, you know how damaging and painful | | | | the freedom to create new, positive propelling |
| thoughts like these can be. And, the most | | | | thoughts for yourself. For each of the negative |
| dangerous part is that they can project you on a | | | | thoughts on your log, write down a replacement |
| cycle that leads you on a downward spiral to | | | | goal along with a concrete baby action step that |
| being stuck and in pain. I call this The Wheel of | | | | will help reach your goal. Here are some examples: |
| Negativity. Here's what it looks like: | | | | I'll never make enough money... turns to .... I want |
| You create a negative thought ... then... | | | | to earn more money than I do right now; I will |
| You cling so tightly to this thought that you | | | | reach out to 5 new potential clients each week. |
| passionately collect evidence from the outside | | | | I'll never live in a place that I love... turns to ...I |
| world to uphold it at any cost... then... | | | | want to improve my living conditions; I will look |
| You become so mired in the thought and the | | | | into fixing up my apartment or what else is on |
| evidence you've collected that you become unable | | | | the market right now. |
| to identify all of the positive aspects of your | | | | I'll be stuck in this job forever ...turns to... I would |
| situation... then... | | | | like a job that fulfills me; I will revise my resume |
| You feel stuck so you act stuck; you don't take | | | | so that I can attract a position that really makes |
| any action to change your situation or you take a | | | | my heart sing. |
| fear-based action... then... | | | | 3) Have a Gratitude Attitude:This is the final step |
| Being stuck leads you to create more negative | | | | to re-wiring negativity, and it's a crucial one. |
| thoughts | | | | Remember to acknowledge all of the things that |
| The more you allow your negative thinking | | | | are going right! You'll be amazed at what a shift in |
| patterns to become activated, the more they | | | | your thinking that can make! |
| become habit. They become your comfort zone | | | | Following these three easy steps will move you |
| and your first response to a situation. Without | | | | well on your way to freeing yourself from the |
| managing and transforming them, your negative | | | | negative thinking patterns that keep you stuck, |
| thoughts run the danger of becoming part and | | | | and propel you onto the road of realizing and |
| parcel of your daily life. | | | | achieving your goals! |