Do Negative Thoughts Come True? Find Out!

Do negative thoughts come true?

When the mind bombards us with ideas such as “I am not enough”, “most likely it goes wrong” or “Why try?”, Life becomes terribly gray. The idea that thoughts create our reality may sound a bit magical. However, the truth is that psychology has studied this phenomenon in depth. It is not a supernatural power, but a mental process that influences our emotions, behaviors and, consequently, the results.

Do negative thoughts come true? Does our mind have so much influence on what happens in our life? In this psychology-online article we answer these questions and deepen the impact that thoughts have on our reality.

What are negative thoughts?

Negative thoughts are pessimistic or self -criticism evaluations that we make of ourselves, others or the world. They appear automatically, sometimes unconsciously. According to Aaron Beck, one of the parents of cognitive therapy, these negative automatic thoughts are at the base of many emotional disorders such as depression or anxiety(1).

For example, if before a job interview we think “I don’t know what I do here. There are better prepared people than me », it is very likely that this affects our body language, our trust and the way we respond. That is, negative thinking does not have a magical power, but also changes our internal disposition.

Pygmalion effect or self -fully prophecy, the impact of negative thoughts

One of the phenomena that shows the most the power of thoughts is the so -called Pygmalion effect or “self -fulfilling prophecy”. This concept was popularized in the educational field by Rosenthal and Jacobson(2)who demonstrated that the expectations that teachers had about their students directly influenced their academic performance. If a teacher thought that a student was brilliant, unconsciously offered him more support, more opportunities, and that student improved.

The same happens with us: if we believe we are incompetent, we will have the tendency to act insecurity, not to assume risks or unbalance ourselves. This attitude will reinforce the initial belief and create a vicious circle.

So can negative thoughts come true? Yes, but only through our actions, our decisions and our focus of attention. That is, the way we think of our perception of the world and, therefore, our actions and experiences.

In fact, as opposed to a pathological perspective of mental health, the 90s was born Positive Psychology. This current has been very well received in the world of personal development. However, it is essential to understand its approach, since, often, it tends to fall into a toxic positivism that discredits pain. The truth is that positive psychology does not try to deny reality or forcing joy, but about promoting hope, focusing on what we can control and cultivate a constructive attitude, positively affecting our vision of the world and, therefore, our results.

That is why it is so important to learn to observe, understand and transform our thoughts. Because although we cannot control everything that happens outside, we can work with what happens within our mind.

Do negative thoughts come true? - Pygmalion effect or self -fulfilling prophecy, the impact of negative thoughts

Attentional approach, how negative thoughts affect us

Another possible explanation to power that thoughts have about reality is Attentional approach. That is, our mind filters reality based on what it expects to find. Therefore, if you think you are going to have a bad day, you are likely to pay more attention to the negative (the traffic, the bad face of a partner or the delay in an order) and ignore the positive. In other words: it is not that the day has been objectively bad, but that your attention has been biased by your thought.

Martin Seligman, founder of positive psychology, highlights the Importance of changing the negative explanatory style (That is, the way of interpreting life from pessimism). After all, according to Seligman, people who adopt a more optimistic style not only have a better mental health, but also physical(3).

Can we change negative thoughts?

Yes. Moreover, this is one of the main objectives of many psychological therapies. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy (TCC) focuses on identifying negative automatic thoughts, questioning and replacing them with more functional ones. It is not about lying with empty positive phrases, but about finding a more realistic and compassionate look towards ourselves and what surrounds us.

Another option is to work with techniques such as mindfulness or “full attention” To observe our thoughts without hooking them, or the Journalingwhich consists of writing our thoughts and emotions to gain perspective.

In the following article you can see other tips on how to eliminate negative thoughts.

Do negative thoughts come true? - Can we change negative thoughts?

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Do negative thoughts come true? we recommend that you enter our category of cognitive psychology.

References

  1. Beck, AT (1976). Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders. International University Press.
  2. Rosenthal, R., Jacobson, L. (1968). Pygmalion in the Classroom: Teacher Expectation and Pupils’ Intellectual Development. Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
  3. Seligman, MEP (2006). Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. Vintage


  • Emily Psychology

    I’m Emily Williams Jones, a psychologist specializing in mental health with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. With a Ph.D. in psychology, my career has spanned research, clinical practice and private counseling. I’m dedicated to helping individuals overcome anxiety, depression and trauma by offering a personalized, evidence-based approach that combines the latest research with compassionate care.