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Positive Thinking: 7 Ways to Turn Around Negative Thinking

Hi all,

 

This article came from Caring.com website, and is aimed at folks caring for the elderly, but I thought these suggestions would work in other situations as well.

Blessings,

Julie

Positive Thinking

7 Ways to Turn Around Negative Thinking

By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor

 

Every caregiver sometimes has negative thoughts -- at least everyone who's human! Unfortunately, negative thinking can darken your mood and send your emotions spiraling downward. And since the stress of caregiving already raises your risk of depression, it's best to break a negative-thinking cycle quickly.

Here are seven ways to catch and reorient yourself when you find yourself saying or thinking things like, "Nothing is going right," "I'm never able to . . . ," or "It's hopeless."

  1. Remember that "always" and "never" sentences are almost never true!
    Try to banish these words from your vocabulary. They're satisfyingly dramatic but unnecessary downers.

  2. Look hard at the truth of your negative statement.
    Is it completely accurate? Is it fair? Things are seldom entirely grim.

  3. Flip your statement to its positive side:
    "What's going right is . . . " or, "At least I'm able to . . . "

  4. Play the "glad game."
    Make like Pollyanna, the girl who vowed to find one thing to be glad about no matter how bad things were. Corny, but effective.

  5. Get a reality check.
    Ask the doctor, a sibling, or friend to go over a situation (or aspect of a situation) that has you feeling down or upset and review the facts. What else might be considered? How bad is it really? What does he or she suggest?

  6. Ask yourself, "Where do I go from here?"
    Think of one positive step you can take -- even if it's a baby step -- that will shift your reality to a slightly better one. There may still be plenty to be glum about, but this act shifts you toward a sense of positive momentum.

  7. Remind yourself that you're doing the best you can in a hard situation.
    As the saying goes, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."


Creation date: Apr 11, 2013 11:27am     Last modified date: Apr 11, 2013 11:28am   Last visit date: Mar 27, 2024 3:16am
1 / 1000 comments
Apr 15, 2013  ( 1 comment )  
4/15/2013
12:34pm
Kathy Carr (kathy)

Good ideas!  And it's so important to maintain hope in every situation because God is Sovereign and He is in control!

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