Fighting Automatic Negative Thoughts – Tips to Help Beat Them Back

Automatic negative thoughts are those little killers that leap into your mind from time to time – often when they are least wanted. They come about quick but can actually play a large part in how your life unfolds, helping dissuade you from making decisions and keeping you focused on the negative aspects of life instead of the positive ones. You’ll likely experience a dozen or more a day, from the mundane to the profound, so it is important to understand how to help overcome automatic negative thoughts and keep them from causing a negative impact on your life. Here are a few easy tips that you can use to help fight off automatic negative thoughts.

1. Live For The Moment – Automatic negative thoughts often present themselves as worries about the future or the past. They will call up things that have happened to you over the course of your life and combine with a fear of what is to come in the future. They may leave you remembering a failed date or a horrible job interview and in turn force you to worry needlessly about an upcoming interview or date. Your efforts are better spent living in the present and focusing on what is going on rather than on what has happened or will happen. That isn’t to say that you should ignore the future or not plan for it, but don’t let worrying about it consume your everyday life.

2. Counter With Positivity – Automatic negative thoughts can actually affect your actions. If you keep telling yourself that you are unattractive, odds are that you will begin to believe it and not only stop taking care of yourself but sink into a depression because of it. It’s better to counter those negative thoughts with positive ones. If you find yourself thinking “I’m fat and hideous”, immediately focus on telling yourself that “I will get into shape and be sexy”. You can’t simply tell yourself that you have the body of a supermodel because your subconscious won’t believe it, but you can boost your confidence in other ways.

3. Think Positive Every Day – Once a day, make an effort to think a positive thought. It could be as simple as “my family loves me” or “dinner is fabulous”. Don’t be afraid to compliment yourself, either. Tell yourself how great you look or how good your meal was even if no one else does. Adding a few positive thoughts to your life each day will help you fight automatic negative thinking and live a happier, fuller life.