How Your Negative Thoughts Can Hurt You

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Negative thoughts, we all have them from time to time. Have you ever stopped to think how much your thoughts affect you?

Do you think more positively or negatively? The way your thoughts lean can say a lot about you.

Negative thoughts over time shape how we feel about ourselves and can affect our self-esteem. Do these sound familiar?

“Why did I do that, that was so dumb”, “You should’ve done it this way”, or “If I mess this up, I’ll get fired for sure”. If you feel that you’re thinking more negatively lately about yourself, others, or your overall life situation, consider some of these questions below.

Check your negative thinking:

• Is this a self loving statement?
• Is this thought helpful?
• Is it in my control?
• Am I blaming myself unnecessarily?
• Am I holding myself to unrealistic standards?
• Am I taking this personally?
• Am I making assumptions?
• Are there exceptions to this?
• Could there be other perspectives?
• Would I say this to a friend?

Consider checking your thinking if you notice some extra negativity in your thoughts. Be kind to yourself, we all have these thoughts, it’s what we do about them that matters.

Check out this book for other helpful tips for negative thinking. 

Bonus Goodie! I’ve got a discount code for $5 off the Anti Anxiety Notebook. Use code rbcounseling5.  This notebook keeps me sane with my busy schedule. The notebook has prompts to break down describe the situation you’re in, describe your thoughts, note the intensity, identify thought patterns, challenge your unhelpful thinking, and gives you room to do some extra journaling. It prompts you every step of the way. Obviously, I’m loving it. Check it out for yourself here. 

To discuss how therapy could help you during this season of your life, please contact me or schedule your free 15 minute consultation.

You have already taken the first step in seeking help and I can’t wait to help you achieve your goals!

Want to read more? Here are a few of my related blog posts you may be interested in checking out!

– “8 Tips to Talk to Your Teen About Self Harm”

–“How to Deal With Your Depression”

Check out some of the items mentioned in the blog post above, along with a few extra goodies we think you’ll love!