With all the commitments that cause stress, worry and a perpetual race against time – it’s easy to feel like you can’t stay happy for a single moment, but that’s simply not true. Negativity is so pervasive because our brains are wired that way as part of our self-defense mechanism. Therefore, we also accept it as normal. But negative thinking isn’t healthy. It can trap us in a prison of fear, anxiety, anger and despair. In order to break free, you need to start setting new norms.
People face all kinds of problems every day, which is why they often cannot stop thinking negative. Negative thinking is the easiest way to slow down your business and personal goals. But how do you get rid of negative thoughts? There are a number of ways to do it, and the one you choose is likely a personal decision.
We asked Mark Berger Chicago, Chief Executive Officer of the leading healthcare provider Villa Healthcare for advice on how to banish negative thoughts so that their goals can be more easily met.
Mark Berger Chicago gave us his best tips, and this is what he had to say.
Define your thoughts precisely
If you want to stretch yourself to your fullest potential, you need to escape your self-imposed prison of negative thinking. What we think – that’s what happens to us. If you think negatively – each problem will seem even more difficult, you will spend more energy to solve it, and it is certain that you will feel worse. However, if you change your mind and formulate it correctly at the right time, it is precisely your thoughts that can be most helpful in solving the problem you are facing.
Just when you find yourself in a situation that causes you stress and a sense of failure – you need to turn your thought stream around and say to yourself, “Everything is fine”, “Everything is possible”.
It is very important that the foundation of your mindset is positive and that you truly believe in it. This will help you find your inner peace more easily, which will give you more strength to continue to fight and solve your problems.
If you want to change your circumstances, you need to change the way you think. You have to stop believing that you are stuck in your situation and passively accepting that you’re incapable of doing anything about it.
Use visualization as part of your everyday life
It is very important to learn the technique of visualization, because it can be very useful in everyday life when you want to deal with a rush of engaging thoughts. All it takes is to relax and allow yourself to fantasize.
Visualize in your head everything you would like to see, hear, how you would like some things to go – imagine the solution to some problems that bother you, accomplish in your mind some goals that you have set long ago, the money you want to earn.
Do this as often as possible during the day, and it is best to go to bed when your attention is not divided and it is certainly advisable to relax and let yourself daydream. Visualization will fill you with positive energy that will give you more motivation, confidence, and thus you will be more productive, happier, more accomplished…
Everything is changeable / nothing is final
This is exactly the truth you have to accept – nothing is finite and everything is changeable. If you are currently unhappy with your poor business status or workplace – this is not final, as are your love problems or your poor health. It’s important to have an effective strategy to combat this negative self-talk and get yourself back on track. Mark Berger Chicago recommends asking yourself what you will accomplish by doing nothing. Then, ask yourself what you could accomplish if you try something.
Change is what is positive about everything that happens to us. Every situation can be improved, no problem is final and without solution, and if you accept it – you will feel happier every day because you will be more relieved.
So, instead of dwelling on problems, try to focus on solutions. Problems are real, and they warrant our attention, but they don’t go away without solutions. Knowing things aren’t working is a good first step but nothing more. Focusing on problems brings more problems but focusing on solutions opens up opportunities.
Do what you love more often
There are certain things we simply enjoy doing. If there is a hobby you like to pursue – then you need to take the time to do it more often. It has been proven that we feel fulfilled, alive and full of energy when we do what we really enjoy, and in order to feel that way more often – we need to afford each day a little time to spend exactly on the things we love to do.
Since it is nothing more important than feeling good – because it is the only way to be happy, productive, and easier to deal with life’s challenges every day – it is important that you do everything you can to truly feel that way. One of those ways is to take the time each day to do what you really love to do – no matter what it is.
Remember, having zero negative thoughts is impossible. This doesn’t mean there’s no workaround, there’s always something you can do. Kick negativity out of your system before it becomes a habit. If you’re out of ideas on how to do it on your own, try any or all of these techniques recommended by Mark Berger Chicago.