Sorry to jump in, I know we don't know each other....
I was taught: Restate anything negative that comes out of your mouth immediately. Sometimes (even when I'm alone) I'll say out loud "this is the worst day ever" or "I can't believe I'm so stupid" And immediately I change it to something like "I really don't like these circumstances" or "I can't believe I made a mistake like that". Which then I change to "this will be a great story to make other people laugh" or "chalk it up to a dopey moment"
My therapist taught me that when I was a thirteen year old with a penchant for dramatic and fairly dark exclamations. It actually makes me feel better and makes me rethink what I'm saying and why.
Also, it was suggested that I use the dictionary version of words. So words like heinous, which I used for everything, I was encouraged to view differently. My Dad famously once told my sisters and I "Murder is heinous, TABLECLOTHS are not heinous" <-- still makes me laugh.
Say what you mean, mean what you say, don't be dramatic. Simplest way to think positive. But I was taught that 20 years ago. =)
Oh don't apologise, please. Unlocked posts are unlocked for a reason. I love drop-ins, especially with good advice. Thank you!
I went to a hand-holdy, touchy-feely team-building thing a few years back when I was doing my PhD and, despite my general loathing of such things, ended up using a lot of the relaxation exercises they taught us for all sorts of things. I have this feeling they touched on positive thinking then too, but for the life of me I can't remember any of that part of it (maybe I was too relaxed to take it in, lol), so I was hoping someone would have some.
I've got a less than pretty negative spiral happening atm that could use a smack in the face. And simple sounds great!
Hi again! If I might share: I'm bipolar so I have a lot of techniques I use just for me. I don't know if you're still looking for ideas, but these are another three I use.
1) Pick one thing and clean it. Like, scrub it til it gleams. If you can't be happy about everything around you, take pride in one thing. so for instance, it might be the freezer door of your fridge or the side door window or, anything, but don't pick "the kitchen" or 'the car" that's too much. Pick one thing and make it the best it's ever looked. I don't know why that works, but it works for me.
2) Here's a touchy-feely moment. when you go to bed journal 5 things that were great that happened that day. No joke, I remember once writing "the toast didn't burn" because I had no great things happen, but as you keep it up, you start to focus on positive not negative.
3) Here's my religious moment: pray. Don't pray for yourself or for what you want. Don't make it a scary or overwhelming thing; and if you're not a pray-er then think positive thoughts for someone else.
When I'm in a negative spiral I go to bed for days, I feel your pain. =) I hope that you find things that help you slap that spiral back down!
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From:
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I was taught: Restate anything negative that comes out of your mouth immediately. Sometimes (even when I'm alone) I'll say out loud "this is the worst day ever" or "I can't believe I'm so stupid" And immediately I change it to something like "I really don't like these circumstances" or "I can't believe I made a mistake like that". Which then I change to "this will be a great story to make other people laugh" or "chalk it up to a dopey moment"
My therapist taught me that when I was a thirteen year old with a penchant for dramatic and fairly dark exclamations. It actually makes me feel better and makes me rethink what I'm saying and why.
Also, it was suggested that I use the dictionary version of words. So words like heinous, which I used for everything, I was encouraged to view differently. My Dad famously once told my sisters and I "Murder is heinous, TABLECLOTHS are not heinous" <-- still makes me laugh.
Say what you mean, mean what you say, don't be dramatic. Simplest way to think positive. But I was taught that 20 years ago. =)
From:
no subject
I went to a hand-holdy, touchy-feely team-building thing a few years back when I was doing my PhD and, despite my general loathing of such things, ended up using a lot of the relaxation exercises they taught us for all sorts of things. I have this feeling they touched on positive thinking then too, but for the life of me I can't remember any of that part of it (maybe I was too relaxed to take it in, lol), so I was hoping someone would have some.
I've got a less than pretty negative spiral happening atm that could use a smack in the face. And simple sounds great!
Thanks again. :)
Lizzie
From:
no subject
1) Pick one thing and clean it. Like, scrub it til it gleams. If you can't be happy about everything around you, take pride in one thing. so for instance, it might be the freezer door of your fridge or the side door window or, anything, but don't pick "the kitchen" or 'the car" that's too much. Pick one thing and make it the best it's ever looked. I don't know why that works, but it works for me.
2) Here's a touchy-feely moment. when you go to bed journal 5 things that were great that happened that day. No joke, I remember once writing "the toast didn't burn" because I had no great things happen, but as you keep it up, you start to focus on positive not negative.
3) Here's my religious moment: pray. Don't pray for yourself or for what you want. Don't make it a scary or overwhelming thing; and if you're not a pray-er then think positive thoughts for someone else.
When I'm in a negative spiral I go to bed for days, I feel your pain. =) I hope that you find things that help you slap that spiral back down!
From:
no subject