If you are worried about something, getting yourself to stop thinking about the problem is right near impossible. It’s like being stuck in a groove, making it really hard to concentrate on anything else. But revisiting negative thoughts repeatedly in your head can be unpleasant and even be the cause of chronic depression.
Here are a few techniques on how to get rid of negative thoughts and refocus on all things positive. All you will need to achieve this is a touch of distraction and a generous helping of willpower.
Take a mental vacation
One way to trick your mind is to visualize yourself going on a vacation to your favorite getaway. Try to picture all the items you will pack, the places you will visit, the things you will see or do, etc. You can easily do this for anything else like a grocery list or the lyrics of a song.
The key here is to concentrate. Just like you can lull yourself to sleep by counting sheep, the same principle is at work here. The minute you catch yourself thinking anything negative, concentrate on something that will take your mind away from it. You just need to hold the thought for 30 seconds to a minute.
Reinforcing this disciplined thinking pattern will help erase negative thought cycles.
Redo it from a different angle
If you cannot avoid the inevitable and distracting yourself is hard to do, try redoing situations in your head. Just remember to change the angle.
For example, if you get stuck in a traffic snarl for half an hour, don’t think of the fact that you are running late. Instead, turn it around as an opportunity to read, get in touch with your friends or shop for your essentials online.
If you can successfully reframe your situation, performing the distraction exercise discussed above will be far easier.
Stop dwelling on negative thoughts with these handy tips and enjoy success in life.