Negative Awareness

Winner's Circle Network with Lou Tice - "Awareness Part II"

So, how did you do in your 24 hours of "no negative thinking?" Today, I want to continue talking about trying to break negative thinking addiction.

We have been talking about the fact that negative thinking can be a harmful addiction, and about how to raise our awareness of the amount of negative thinking we do by learning to pay attention without blaming ourselves.

Today, I want to take it one step further and talk about what you can do to break this destructive habit, once you realize that you have it.

The first thing to do is stop justifying or defending your negative thoughts. While it may be true that they are perfectly rational, they are not doing you or anyone else any good. So stop labeling them as reasonable or unreasonable. Just notice them.

Another thing to do is declare a ban on all negative thinking for short periods every day, say for 30 minutes when you get up, or right before you go to bed. Then, gradually extend those times.

One final strategy is to be an ace disputer. Learn to argue with your negative thoughts and to replace them with positive ones. Every possible subject has a positive side. Accomplished positive thinkers know they have a choice about where they want to focus their attention, and they choose the positive aspect. You can too. Say, "Yes," to life and to breaking the negative thinking addiction. You can do it!