Eliminating self-defeating thoughts is a daily journey that requires persistence, patience, and practice. Here are four steps to aid you in the process of moving away from negative thinking toward more positive thoughts.
Step 1
Record – Notice your thoughts. Get a small journal and record your negative thoughts for 48 hours. Yes, write down every negative thing that you say to yourself or about yourself for two full days.
Step 2
Reflect – Reflect on your thoughts and what brought them on. What can you change about the circumstances? Remember how these thoughts make you feel.
Step 3
Rebel – Distance yourself from self-defeating thoughts. Don’t accept them. Make a commitment to yourself to change.
Step 4
Recondition – Recondition your mind with uplifting and encouraging thoughts. What would you like to have said to yourself? Take out your journal and write the opposite of the negative thoughts you’ve recorded. Throw away the negative list and read the positive list aloud regularly.
These steps can be repeated as often as necessary.
Nicki Sanders, Chief Visionary Officer of Packaged For Success, helps both youth and adults discover their personal power, dream big, and achieve success on their own terms. Ms. Sanders is an experienced trainer, group facilitator, and program manager who holds a Master’s degree in Social Work. Ms. Sanders has over fifteen years of direct experience with diverse populations in residential, school-based, and community based agencies.
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