6 Steps to Deal With Negative Thoughts When we experience negative thoughts, it is important to take a few minutes to contemplate the reasons behind them before you react. I advise following these six steps in order to avoid letting the triggers of your ego get in the way of your actions. 1. Realize that the “lens” we view life through may be a bit distorted. In other words, our view of things may not be reality. While our minds have a way of convincing us of things that aren’t necessarily accurate, we must be willing to question and challenge our own thoughts. These are all signs of distorted thinking. Instead of letting your mind wander, make a conscious effort to take these thoughts into captivity, analyze them, and replace them with healthy thoughts. 2. Avoid judging yourself and others. Often, we unconsciously judge ourselves and others throughout the course of the day. By letting go of the judgements we are making and replacing them with positive thoughts or judgements, we are setting ourselves free of negative thinking. 3. Don’t complain. No one really wants to hear it, and it won’t help you feel better. Take action to fix things that you are unhappy with instead of griping about them. 4. Don’t engage in gossip; it is toxic and divisive. Spreading gossip won’t help you in the long run, even though you may feel better at the time. Gossiping will cause others to lose respect for you, and will cause problems within your family, social circles, workplace, or other places where you engage in the behavior. 5. Find gratitude and satisfaction in your own life. When you show gratitude for the blessings and strengths you have, there is little room to be dissatisfied, envious, or resentful of others. It automatically shifts our thinking to the positive aspects of our lives, rather than focusing on what we’re lacking. Consider creating a gratitude journal and adding to it every day in order to help you stay focused. 6. Get professional help if you are having trouble controlling your negativity. If you are unable to curb your negative thinking or actions towards others, it can sabotage your relationships, your job, and your health. In this case, seek counseling to address the problems you are having. Tweet me @davidmeltzer your favorite takeaway from today's episode and come ask me questions live every Friday at 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST. Text me at (949) 298-2905 or email me at [email protected] to join! Click here to follow the Road to Revenue playlist on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices