Want to know the most effective ways on how to turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts? These are the tried and true strategies you need to implement in your life.
Congratulations! You’re on an exciting path to transforming your mind. I know from experience, this path can seem never ending, but remember you’re worth every step. As someone who used to have very dark thoughts and is still working through some, I’m giving you the BEST strategies to turn your negative thoughts into positive thoughts.
After learning these strategies, you’ll be able to combat negative thoughts like never before. It’s time to welcome in those positive thoughts.
This post is all about strategies to turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts.
Are you ready? Let’s geaux!
What Causes Negative Thoughts
Let’s be honest: Everyone has negative thoughts from time to time. There are many reasons why negative thoughts may happen.
One of the biggest reasons why negative thoughts happen is because you have an enemy who intentionally tries to steal, kill, and destroy your life (John 10:10 NIV).
Everything you face in life starts in the spiritual realm. There’s nothing that you do that can be apart from the spiritual realm because you’re a spirit.
I never want you to forget that you are a spirit, with a soul, inside of a body. You’re just like you’re Father, God.
7 Main Causes Of Negative Thinking
1. Poor Mental Health
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Depression and anxiety are two mental health conditions that are known to be coupled with negative thinking.
Depression, in particular, causes feelings of low self-esteem, hopelessness, and worthlessness. If you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, talk therapy is a great thing to try.
Example Of Thoughts: “I can’t do this”. “I’m not enough”. “That could never be me”.
2. Childhood Traumatic Experiences
Your childhood shapes the way you see and interpret the world around you. Those years are the most influential times in your life.
Unfortunately, negative experiences lead to negative beliefs about yourself and others. Although nothing that happened in your childhood was your fault, it’s now your responsibility to heal from.
Example Of Thoughts: “No one loves me”. “Everyone leaves me”. “I’ll never have a home”.
{Related Post: How To Walk In Obedience To God}
3. Isolating Yourself
Isolation is an unhealthy coping strategy where you believe that you’re a burden to others. Isolating yourself is directly related to your mental health condition.
If you have low self-esteem, social anxiety, or if you’ve ever been involved in a problematic situation, then you may tend to self-isolate.
Examples Of Thoughts: “I don’t want to cause any pain to anyone else”. “I’ll always be an outsider”. “Others are better off without me”.
4. Unresolved Issues/Unforgiveness
Unforgiveness is a nasty deceiver. It makes you think that you’re withholding something from others, but in reality, you’re depriving yourself of the freedom you deserve.
Can you identify some issues in your life that have been unresolved? Is there any people that you haven’t forgiven? Your mom? Dad? Uncle? What if releasing and resolving these issues is the first step to your relief?
Examples Of Thoughts: “They deserve to feel as low as I did”. “What about me”? “Why doesn’t anyone ever acknowledge how I feel”?
5. Too Much Stress
Too much stress isn’t good for the body. When you’re under a lot of stress, you go into survival mode causing you to think negatively.
You were never meant to carry all that you’re carrying. If something is stressing you out, begin to question if it’s worth being in your life. Remember you matter!
What are the things that are stressing you out? Can you identify them?
Examples Of Thoughts: “Why am I even here”? “How am I going to handle this”? “I can’t do it anymore”.
6. Perfectionism
Having unrealistic high standards for yourself often results in you being disappointed in yourself, self-critical, and feeling inadequate whenever you try to do something.
You weren’t designed to be perfect; you were destined to be you. Let your new mantra be: “Progression over perfection”.
Examples Of Thoughts: “I can’t make any mistakes”. “What will they think of me if I mess up”? “I’m not doing enough”.
7. Comparison
To be completely honest, comparison will knock at your door. It’s up to you to let it in or keep it out. Comparing yourself to another person will only result in negative thinking because you both are individuals with different life paths. Remember the grass is not greener on the other side, it’s green where you water it.
Examples Of Thoughts: “Their life looks so perfect, mine is a mess”. “I wish I had their work ethic”. “Look at their relationship, we should be more like that”.
What To Do When You Have Negative Thoughts
Negative thoughts aren’t personal to you so please don’t feel like you’re alone in this. I know it feels overwhelming and one of the enemy’s tactics is to make you feel like you’re the only one going through this, but you’re not.
Here are some things you can do when you are experiencing negative thoughts:
1. Acknowledge The Thought
Acknowledging a negative thought doesn’t mean that you’re accepting it. It’s important to acknowledge the negative thoughts because that’s how you conquer them.
Try not to avoid, suppress, or ignore them. Face them head on.
2. Separate Yourself From The Thoughts
You aren’t your thoughts. Please remember that. You’re an observer of your thoughts. The next time you have a thought whether positive or negative, observe it to find out what the root cause may be.
3. Take The Thought Captive
Remember that you have a real enemy who would do anything to keep you from having peace in your mind. The Bible has given you a wonderful scripture to remind you of what to do when the enemy whispers negative thoughts in your ear.
It says “We destroy every argument and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV).
At one point in my journey, this scripture was the only thing I knew to recite to combat negative thoughts.
4. Reframe The Thought
Reframing your thoughts helps you to see the opportunities in opposition. It also helps you to shift your perspective from negative to positive.
Example:
Negative thought-“I’m never going to be able to do that”.
Positive Reframe-“God is with me and He is guiding me with His loving hand”.
11 Strategies To Turn Negative Thoughts Into Positive Thoughts
Turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts improves your mental health in a tremendous way. Negative thoughts will come, but with these strategies you can easily challenge them and reframe them.
1. Recognize Where The Thoughts Come From
Everything has an origin and while you do have an enemy; he can only use what’s already there. Where do the negative thoughts in your mind stem from?
Did you have a critical parent or someone who spoke harshly to you? Listen closely for the thoughts that make you feel uneasy, anxious, and self-critical to determine it’s origin.
2. Name The Negative Voice In Your Mind
Naming the negative voice allows you to distance yourself from the voice. This is a technique that’s widely practiced in Cognitive Behavior Therapy to help break the pattern of negative thoughts.
You can name that inner voice anything you’d like. For example, if you have a voice that demands perfection, you can call it “Perfection”.
The name can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Remember this is to help you separate yourself from the negative voice.
3. Challenge The Thoughts
Just because you think something doesn’t make it automatically true. When is the last time you challenged your thoughts? Ask yourself if the thoughts are based on facts or fiction.
(Check out this free resource to help you)
4. Weigh The Thought Against God’s Word
Only the Creator can define His creation so if the thoughts don’t line up with God’s word, then they aren’t true. What did God say about you?
How does He feel about you? Focus on God’s word rather than the negative thoughts.
(Check out this free resource)
5. Replace The Thought With Truth
When you find out what God’s word says use it as ammunition. In the book of Ephesians, God’s word is called the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17 ESV).
His word will help you fight off these negative thoughts.
6. Practice Positive Self-Talk
The way you speak to yourself can either help or hinder you. Life and death are in the power of your tongue and you will reap the consequences of whatever you speak (Proverbs 18:21 ESV).
It’s so important to have compassion for yourself. Be as kind to yourself as you would be to a friend.
The next time you make a mistake, don’t beat yourself up. Remind to tell yourself that it’s okay, you tried, and you’ll do better next time.
7. Embrace The Journey
Sometimes, negative thoughts can stem from impatience and feeling like you’re behind in life. Try to remember that you’re going at a pace specific to you.
You’re not behind and even if you’ve messed up time and time again, you have another chance to embrace the journey.
8. Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude is a way to “grab your attitude” and tell it to get right. Each day, take some time to write down what you’re grateful for and why.
This little practice can make all the difference in your thought process.
9. Consume More Positivity
The saying “You are what you eat” couldn’t be more true. Whatever you put into your mind and body WILL come out so consume more positive things.
10. Eat Cleaner
Eating whole foods not only impacts the body, but it impacts the mind. Certain foods can enhance or impair your mood and cognitive function.
Did you know that your gut and your brain are closely connected? Research suggests that a healthy gut microbiome is linked to better mental health outcomes.
(Check out this article for more about the gut-brain connection)
11. Focus On The Present
Why worry about tomorrow when today has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34 NIV)? Focusing on the present moment will help you to turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts by showing you that you can only manage what’s in front of you.
When you’re stressed or worried about the future, negative thoughts can start to spiral out of control. This is because stress and worry trigger the flight or fight response in the body.
Focusing on the present keeps you calm and collected which is essentially more positive.
What strategies will you be implementing in your life to turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts? Feel free to leave your response in the comments, I would love to hear from you. Also if you have any other strategies that have worked for you, let us know!
This post was all about strategies to turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts.
Always remember that you’re destined to win because He got up!
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