Your mind has a tendency to think of the negative due a variety of reasons, one being the negativity bias. This is where the negative things in life, have a greater effect on us than positives things. If left unchecked, negativity can cause a whole host of problems such as anxiety depression and shorter life expectancy to name a few.Depsite those problems, we have around 12,000 - 50,000 thoughts a day and 80% of them are negative.This begs the question, how can we stop thinking so negatively?

Why Stop Negative Thinking? 

A study revealed that dwelling on negative life events can result in mental health problems. However, the study indicated that rather than the events itself, its how we think about those events, that shapes our psychologyical well-being. First, understand what negative thoughts you engage in, this will allow you to have a better understanding of what triggers your negative thoughts. Everytime you have a negative thought, write it down. Do this over a week and you may be shocked at the result.

Challenge Your Thoughts

If the thought of 'not being good enough' pops into your head you may be thinking how bad you are. However, if the same thought occurs, you can reframe the statement to change your perspective on it.For example: - 'I am not good enough'<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Typical Negative thought - 'I will never be good at this!'</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Reframing the thought - 'Hmm, it seems I am not good at my work, what can I do to change this?'</li></ul>Reframing changes the way you see a problem, which allows a better chance in finding a resolution.

Reframe Your Thoughts

Research shows meditation significantly reduces the amount of negative thoughts. The research also showed people who mindfully meditated saw the most benefits. To mindfully meditate:<ul><li>Direct your attention inwardly. </li><li>Notice thoughts, emotions and physical sensations.</li><li>Everyime you are aware of these, turn your attention towards it.</li><li>Acknowledge it, if you want label it and as best as you can...</li><li>Let things be as they are.</li></ul>By letting go of the negative thoughts you makes space for new experiences.

Meditation Combats Negativity

Gratitude has been called as a 'natural antideressant'Studies on gratitude are linked with increase feeling of long last happiness and contentment.Gratitude has also been linked with:<ul><li>Better sleep</li><li>Builds emotional awareness</li><li>Promotes physical health</li><li>Resilient to emotional setbacks</li></ul>Focusing on what you are grateful for disconnects us from negative emotions, if you think about you can not be happy and sad at the same time. Ask yourself right now, 'what is one thing I'm grateful for today...'

Gratitude Kills Negativity

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Personal Development

How To Stop Negative Thoughts

All Negativity is not bad as research shows people: <ul><li>Pay more attention</li><li>Learn from </li><li>Make decisions</li></ul>From negative events and experiences than positives ones. For good reason, if something harmed us in the past, we are unlikely to repeat the experience as we would want to avoid the pain.

Importance Of Negativity

Though issue arises when the mind only sees the negative. The term for this is called Negativity Bias, Negative experiences have a greater effect on us than positives experiences. This means we give more importance to the negative. Meaning we have a tendency to highlight all the negatives things in our life even in reality they are insignificant.

Negativity Bias

Whenever you have a thought, an electrical charge is triggered, the two synapses grow together, rewiring the brain's circuitry making it easier for the thought to trigger. This strengthens the brain to think of that thought again. That's not great for those who have been constantly thinking negative thoughts. This allows one's brain to be rewired to have a more negative personality.

Synapses Fire Together Wire Together

Encouraging negative thoughts leads to subsequent stress, which produces a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol has the effect of shutting down the prefrontal cortex in our brains which is in charge of feelings such as:<ul><li>Logic</li><li>Problem-solving </li><li>Empathy </li><li>Compassion </li><li>Forgiveness</li></ul>The reason for this is when our brains are stressed, it redirects our resources to the Fight or Flight response.

Effects Of Negativity On The Mind

This is great if you are in real danger but being constantly in the fight or flight responses isn't what our bodies are designed to do. Constant triggering the fight or flight response leads to: <ul><li>Dementia </li><li>Stroke </li><li>Heart diseases </li><li>Digestive issues </li><li>Decreases the immune system</li><li>Lowers life expectancy.</li></ul>

Effects of Negativity on the Body

Studies show that depression is a result of habitual negative thinking. This is important as people who have major depression are: <ul><li>Twice as likely to suffer from one or more chronic diseases</li><li>Three times as likely to suffer from pain-related disorders and injuries. </li><li>Seven times as likely to suffer from alcohol or substance use disorders. </li></ul>

Negativity linked to Depression

This video explains why negative thoughts are so common to us and explores the impacts of negativity both in the short and long term.

According to research conducted by the National Science Foundation around 80% of our thoughts are negative. And we have around 12,000 - 50,000 thoughts daily. You would probably agree with me that 80% does not sound like a healthy ratio of negative thinking!

And I am sure for most of us, 80% of our events aren't negative so our perspectives are misaligned with our realities. By becoming more self-aware and taking control of our minds, we can go a long way in reaching for a happier and healthier life!

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
0:24 Importance Of Negativity
1:08 Negativity Bias
4:32 How The Brain Rewires Itself To Think Negative?
6:08 Importance of Association
7:47 The Effects of Media
8:58 Why Thinking Negative Is Likely
9:30 How Does Negativity Affect The Mind?
10:22 How Does Negativity Affect the Body?
12:09 Negativity Linked With Depression?

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How To Stop Negative Thoughts

Why Stopping Negative Thoughts Is Important

kishan parekh