The human brain processes a huge number of thoughts every day, every hour and every minute. Some of them are conscious thoughts, and others are automatic or unconscious; that is, they emerge into consciousness involuntarily. between the seconds some are destructive thoughts, which affect our personal lives much more than we can imagine. A destructive thought acquires such a category when it is given excessive importance that it can end up leading to a bad habit.
To visualize the problem, let’s imagine that we have a negative thought from the first moment we open our eyes. If when we wake up we have in mind “how bad my day is going to go” for some reason and we repeat it to ourselves throughout the day, what will be the result? It is clear evidence that nothing will go well. This will lead to general discomfort: apathy, tiredness, anger or sadness. The crux of the matter lies in the unconsciousness of these thoughts but, in addition, we must take into account how complicated it is to eliminate these mental images.
Below we will present the 4 most common destructive thoughts.
1. Demand
It is one of the great variables of negative thinking. Modern society requires fierce competition, of human values based on professional achievements. When we resort to “I must” or “I have to” ignoring the consequences, that is when stress, anxiety and worry settle into our nervous system. We have to make way for the “I want” or “I can”. Each one should be aware of their possibilities and capabilities.
Having a destructive point of view of the reality that surrounds us is another of the great dilemmas. When we focus our thoughts on statements like “how bad everything is going for me” or “I never do anything right,” We tend to falsely generalize about the bad in every step we take. We have to delve into the positive points of our daily lives.
3. Tags
When we label ourselves, we end up believing that we are one way or another. “I’m not good at this or that”, “I’m lazy”. The repetition of these statements internalizes our way of projecting our personality. Furthermore, even if others tell us so, we have to avoid paying attention to it. It is extremely important to love yourself and become worthy to be able to be happy.
4. Catastrophism
Many people suffer from chronic negative thoughts from the moment they wake up until they go to sleep. Ideas and beliefs like “I’m not going to get my way” or “I’m unlucky” only aggravate the situation. It is not a question of putting a brave face on bad weather, but of trying to minimize the damage and, especially, do not get ahead of events creating new problems where they do not exist. Premature worry makes good personal development impossible.
The 5 keys to ending negative thoughts
Very often, human beings recognize the problem we have or the mental blocks we suffer, but even more common is not knowing how to deal with them. In the following lines we will review the five most precious tips to combat destructive thoughts.
All individuals are born, grow and establish themselves in a specific family and social environment. Their characteristics can fundamentally determine our way of seeing things. If we are part of a family fabric, friends or small groups where a bad atmosphere reigns, it will be very difficult to get out of the loop. Breaking these ties will be the first step to overcoming negative dynamics.
2. Accept everyday difficulties
In our childhood and as our youth progresses until we reach adulthood, we always have the perception that everything is going uphill. It is nothing more than that, a false perception, since in the first years of life, in most cases, we do not try so hard to achieve what makes us happy. However, when we get older, we have to take care of those unforeseen responsibilities and difficulties. Coping with these situations using the appropriate strategies helps prevent destructive thoughts.
3. Avoid envy
It is one of the great problems of negative feelings. Wanting what others have, whether material or immaterial goods, is a clear sign of envy, which leads to insecurity and frustration. We must avoid the type of beliefs that lead to it, be more grateful in life and, above all, be realistic and know that there will always be someone above us in some quality.
4. Recognize our weaknesses
As is often the case in all aspects of life, the first step to solving a problem is to identify the weak point in us that it exposes. In this case, society “forces” us to hide this characteristic. Social sanctions are very accentuated when we expose these shortcomings, but we must know how to face these situations to improve and not fall into self-humiliation. Self-esteem is essential in this aspect we can acknowledge failure and still combat the negativity.
From a young age we are taught to have everything under control, and little or no effort is made to deal with unforeseen events. That is why, very often, our mental scheme overflows so easily in the face of any anomaly. Even a situation beyond our control, such as the weather, often frustrates us to the point of having a bad day. This does not mean that we should try to restrict our ability to feel anger, it should simply last for as short a time as possible and be experienced constructively.
