Negative thought patterns can turn your day into a downward spiral and affect you on both a physical and emotional level. Below are five negative thought patterns that you should get rid of.
Catastrophizing
This happens when we perceive a tiny mistake or misfortune in our lives as being the one thing that will ultimately ruin everything for us. Not only does this exaggeration not help us, it fosters anxiety, fear, stress and helplessness. Don’t believe that the worst has happened before it’s happened.
Generalizing
I think that everyone, somewhere deep inside of them, knows that when they say ‘blanket’ statements that unfairly group individuals together without a second glance, that there’s some element of dishonesty in what they’re saying. Stating that everything is either ‘this way’ or ‘that way’ is a poor way of viewing the world. Don’t make it a habit.
Personalizing
As much as we would like to think that we are at the center of the universe, we are not. The world does not belong to you just as much as it does not belong to me. Always acknowledge that people will act the way they act because they’re sorting through issues of their own, and that it probably doesn’t have anything to do with you (don’t take things so personally).
Filtering
Filtering is something that we all do. Shockingly, people only like to hear things that resonate positively with what they believe or understand. Try to avoid only hearing what you want to hear. Take the good with the bad, because if you only have one side of the picture, how you can fully understand it?
“Should”-ing
Constantly telling yourself that you should have done this or should have done that is bad for one’s view of him or herself. The word ‘should’ denotes that we’re incapable or lacking in certain areas. You’re basically telling yourself you’re not good enough or didn’t do well enough. If you truly think you should be doing something then make the effort to make it happen. If it’s not worth doing, then don’t bother with it, and certainly don’t stress over it.