12 tips on turning negative thoughts into positive actions

The morning blues . We've all been through it. The first few moments of awakening, and the raw emotions, the reality setting in, the remembering of it all, all that comes with it, truly sets the tone for your day. These 12 tips are really, really helpful, I hope you can take them to heart as I have on your own #healingjourney.

If we allow it to, these morning brain awakening moments, the time when spoken words are still far away, truly is is our golden ticket to mental wellness, on any given day of the year.

It can lead us to find the worst in any situation God throws in our path that day, or the absolute best . No matter what happens, what matters is what we make of it.

This image represents me, only a few moments ago , when my phone died out of nowhere (it was plugged in lol, wtf Samsung!) , After I had spent 45 minutes typing out a fantastic blog entry for you all and then POOF it was gone lol (#wix doesn't auto save posts as your writing them, which is my only complaint on the premium plan we pay $$ for to blog here .) I had to them magically poof myself into my peaceful place and kick butt back into gear to rewrite , instead of letting my frustrations get the best of me... ❤️❤️🥰🥰

Our daughter Sara has the morning blues as well. Since 2nd grade (6th now) she hates the mornings before school. It's gotten to the point that I feel like the moment she wakes, I can actually see the negative thoughts buzzing around. It hurts to see your child hurting, and I pray every day for God to guide her out of anxiety's grips while she is still young. Her feelings DO matter.

All children's feelings matter, no matter what we were raised to believe, or put through ourselves as children. This list will be helpful indeed, I will be talking to her about it today after school! She is so loving and understanding when she wants to be , aren't we all ! We both want to work on our anxiety and I want to help support her and reassure her in every step !

I have been talking to her the past week, in a better way of understanding, and trying to explain to her that it's normal and ok to have bad feelings, but what matters is not to get lost in them. We acnowledge them , and even let them sit for a bit, but then we reassure ourselves and continue with positivity and love in our steps .

It seemed at first she was really upset with herself that she couldn't just "turn off" her feelings, and now she understands that's never what anyone wanted her to do to begin with , we have to accept things how they are and make our days as good as possible ❤️❤️🥰🥰❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️🥰

So without further blabbing from me, here's our list !! Leave me a comment let me know what you think XO jazzy

1. Start a Journal

Acknowledge negative thoughts, don’t try to push them away. You want them resolved, not buried like seeds, ready to rear their ugly heads again. Every day, I record every negative or positive thought, where it happened, why it happened, and who it happened with. It helps me identify triggers and turn negative thoughts around next time.

2. Always Ask Yourself, “What Would I Say to a Friend?”

We tend to find it easier to be kinder to others than ourselves. There’s a simple exercise developed to aid children in reframing cognitive distortions, teaching them to recognize “BLUE” thoughts – Blaming myself; Looking for the bad news; Unhappy guessing; and being Exaggeratedly negative.

It also works for adults. Turn those “BLUE” thoughts into true thoughts by imagining that your friend has this problem. You’d probably reassure them. What advice would you give?

3. Say “Stop“

Becoming aware of your Chimp and its patterns takes time. When you spot it, say “Stop,” out loud, and tell the Chimp how to behave.

4. Change Negativity to Neutrality

It’s a lot easier to turn down negativity than switch it off. Ask yourself, “Is this thought helping or hindering me in my journey to become my best self?” If it’s hindering, be gentler with your language. For example, change, “This is impossible,” to “Let’s try a different approach.” Interestingly, when you do this, your brain will come up with answers to your questions.

5. Create an SOS File of Positive Praise

I compile positive emails and comments from clients and friends, to dig out when I’m feeling insecure. Some days it’s a lifesaver. I’m always pleasantly surprised at how quickly I bounce back.

6. Breathe

In the words of Mr Miyagi, “When you feel life is out of focus, always return to the basic of life. Breathing. No breath, no life.” Every day, I use the 4-7-8 breathing technique that NAVY Seals use. You can do it throughout the day for maintenance, or as an SOS. It’ll quickly get you into a calmer state, where you can be more rational.

7. Talk to Somebody

Whether it’s a therapist, close friend, or colleague, with an understanding of the exact boat you are in. As long as it’s someone supportive, who will identify the positives, and put any negative thoughts into perspective.

8. Follow a Healthy Lifestyle

I do three 10-minute workouts daily. Exercise positively affects mood and reduces stress. I’m also thankful that my dog Colin gets me outside. More oxygen to the brain improves concentration and memory. Exercise can also lower blood pressure and releases chemicals in the brain that help you feel happier and more relaxed.

9. Identify Areas to Change

Which areas of your life do you most often think negatively about? Perhaps it’s work, a relationship, your downtime. Start by focusing on one small area and on how you can approach that in a more positive way.

10. Surround Yourself With Positive People

Negative people will likely increase your stress levels, make you doubt your abilities, and make it harder to manage negative thinking in healthy ways. Instead, seek supportive people who you can depend on to give grounded advice and feedback.

11. Practice Self-Compassion

It’s taken me years, but it’s never too late to begin. Tara Cousineau’s 2017 book, The Kindness Cure points out that self-criticism just makes you feel stuck. But, she says, replacing disapproval and self-judgment with self-compassion allows you to accept in a gentle way that you are flawed – strengthening your mental wellness.

12. Practice Positive Self-Talk Out Loud

Use your name, not “I.” Creating emotional distance in our self-talk can help to calm us down, see things more clearly, and think more rationally, according to University of Michigan psychologist Ethan Kross.

Which negative thoughts do you struggle with most? How have you been coping? What actions are you going to take today to turn negative thoughts into positive action, and create real change? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the Comments section below.

Tips taken from a amazing blog, MindTools, with much more good articles and resources , see full article here https://www.mindtools.com/blog/how-to-turn-negative-thoughts-into-positive-actions/ )