How to Tame Your Thoughts
Summary
- When I find myself trying to change negative thoughts and feelings, I ask myself what I can do instead to distract myself for the next hour or two.
- Engaging in activities that are important to me, like working on a project, talking with family, calling a friend, or going for a walk can help me forget about negative thoughts and feelings.
- Accepting things is easier when you're busy with other tasks.
- It’s important to fill your time with meaningful activities rather than focusing on negative feelings.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest implementing a few simple strategies to manage negative thoughts and feelings in your personal and professional life.
Distract Yourself with Meaningful Activities
When you notice negative thoughts creeping in, ask yourself what important activity you can do in the next hour or two to distract yourself. Here are some ideas:
- Work on an important project: Dive into a task that requires your full attention.
- Talk with family: Have a meaningful conversation with a family member.
- Call a friend: Reach out to a friend for a chat.
- Go for a walk: Take a stroll to clear your mind and get some fresh air.
Keep Busy with Valuable Tasks
Filling your time with activities that matter to you can help you accept and move past negative thoughts. Think about what really means something to you and put those things into your day-to-day routine. Busy people tend to have less time to dwell on negative feelings.
Schedule Meaningful Activities
Plan your day so you're always moving from one engaging task to another. This could mean setting specific times for:
- Project work: Block out time for focused work.
- Family time: Dedicate time in your day to connect with family.
- Friend catch-ups: Plan regular calls with friends.
- Exercise: Include regular physical activity to boost your mood.
Reflect and Adjust
At the end of the week, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself what activities helped you the most. Adjust your schedule to include more of those activities that made you feel better.
By incorporating these strategies into your routine, you'll find it easier to manage negative thoughts and feelings while staying productive and engaged in what truly matters to you.
Full Transcript
to actively accept something often means to let it be sometimes especially in the beginning I was filling all my time doing things trying to change my thoughts and my feelings and even my situations so now when I catch myself in a mode where I'm like oh I hate that thought I hate that feeling rather than trying to fight it and trying to change it I ask myself what could I do instead so that the likelihood I forget about this thought or that's feeling in the next hour or two hours is low and so that might be working on a project that's important to me it might be having a conversation with my family it might be calling a friend might be going on a walk it's much easier to accept something when you have other things to do
