Six Ways to Deal With the Chatter in Your Head

How we think affects our mood and energy. Unfortunately, the human condition is to think negatively. One study found that for the average person, 80% of thoughts during the day are negative. That’s a lot of negative thinking going on! On top of that, many people have experienced changes in life and/or work circumstances due to the pandemic that have resulted in more time to think. This often leads to more time having negative thoughts, and those thoughts intensifying in negativity, or spiraling out of control.

Here are 5 ways to deal with that negative chatter going on in your head.

1. Pay attention to your thoughts. This does not always come easy, but is a skill that can be developed. This is a crucial step in addressing your thoughts. You first must be aware of them, and the impact that they have on how you feel.
2. Exert more control over the media you consume, and be mindful of limiting what affects you. Negativity is thrown our way in many ways. The news, social media accounts, even email subject lines. Pay attention to how these sources make you feel, and take steps to minimize or eliminate them.
3. Seek out awe. Experiencing awe washes away our worries of the day, even if just temporarily. We lose sense of time and space when experiencing awe. Looking at something beautiful or amazing provides a temporary reprieve from our negative thoughts. It does not make the problem go away, but it can be just what we need to prevent negative thinking from spiraling out of control. Seek out ways that inspire awe in you. That could be something beautiful in nature, such as a sunset, or watching an awe-inspiring video related to amazing art or science on the computer.
4. Put yourself in the future. You might be dealing with a problem today that is consuming your thoughts and bringing down your mood. Think about six months or a year from now. Problems do not last forever. Remind yourself that brighter days ahead. Transport yourself into the future and imagine the healing and growing that comes along with that. Dare to hope.
5. Talk to a trusted person, but don’t just vent. Yes, it can feel good to talk about your problems. However, be mindful of venting just for the sake of venting. That often leaves people feeling worse, as it brings the problem front and center in your mind and only perpetuates and highlights the problem. Instead, when speaking about a problem with someone you trust, you can seek to be validated, seek a different, healthier perspective, reframe the issue, and/or develop a plan for resolution..
6. Start the day without outside influence. When you wake up, don’t go on your phone while you’re still in bed, or when you first get out of bed. This is sacred time, and you get to create the energy and mood. You can create a more positive mood by when you activity participate in that, rather than accept what passively comes your way through your phone.

These ideas and more in FEELING Good: 35 Proven Ways to Happiness, Even During Tough Times.

Every copy comes with 3 months of free membership in the companion online program, also called FEELING Good.