How to KILL negative thoughts
Let’s get real—many of our thoughts are pretty silly. You know how we all have that inner voice chatting away in our heads, telling us all the negative possibilities in front of us? Well, guess what? A lot of those thoughts aren’t even ours! They're a simple "echo" of other people's opinions and fears that seeped into our subconscious. Throughout our lives, we constantly absorb information from the world around us. From a young age, we hear comments, opinions, and beliefs from our parents, teachers, friends, and TV. These external voices can subtly influence our own thoughts and beliefs, embedding themselves in our subconscious mind. Over time, the voices we hear from others morph into our own inner voice, making it easy to mistake others' thoughts for our own. For example, if you were often told as a child that you weren't good at sports, you might internalize this belief and carry it into adulthood, thinking, "I'm just not athletic." These thoughts can influence your behavior and self-esteem without you even realizing it. Think of our negative thoughts like a new character from the movie “Inside Out 2”. Remember Anxiety? This character is always freaking out about every little thing, trying to protect us from imaginary dangers. Look at your irrational thoughts just like this cute, silly character. Anxiety means well; it just wants to protect us. Learn to gently respond to those fearful thoughts. The act of responding to them shows that YOU and your thoughts are separate. You can learn to step back and observe thoughts float by without identifying with any of them. When you have Anxiety Disorder, that little silly, fearful Anxiety character becomes extremely over-protective and sensitive to any sign of threat. It'll take over the control center of your brain, causing symptoms that feel very real. Ever been at a get-together and suddenly thought, “Everyone must think I’m awkward”? That’s Anxiety trying to steal the spotlight, warning you of possible embarrassment. Realize this thought probably isn’t even yours—it’s a leftover from old high school drama or a random comment from a cousin who said you couldn't dance.