Let’s face it: There are days when everything seems to go wrong, and we find ourselves in the middle of a “complaint fest.” Those days can feel even worse after a devastating heartbreak that’s left us raw, broken, and vulnerable.
If you’re like me, you don’t particularly enjoy those days, and you find yourself longing to feel better.
Guess what? You can! The best part? It requires very little effort. Here are seven quick ways to ditch those negative thoughts when you find yourself focusing more on heartbreak than hope:
Seven Quick Ways to Ditch Those Negative Thoughts
- Pause and take a deep breath. This has a calming effect on the entire nervous system and can help you gain control of your thoughts.
- Stop and think. When you find yourself thinking or saying a negative comment about something or someone, stop yourself, then find something positive to say instead. Ask a positive friend to stop you when you complain, and help you to flip your perspective to see the good.
- Have a “pity party.” Allow yourself to vent every once in a while. It’s healthy to have the occasional “pity party.” But, like all parties, it should have a “start time” and an “end time.” And if you are going through a really rough time, don’t be afraid to share your feelings with someone you trust.
- Focus on gratitude. Take a moment to reflect on specific things and people in your life that you truly appreciate. You’ll be amazed at how spending time in gratitude puts problems in perspective.
- Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. It can be hard not to feel frustrated by a slow checkout clerk, or poor service in a restaurant. But consider this: You don’t know what kind of a day the person has had, or what problems are going on behind the scenes. When you put yourself in their shoes, it becomes easier to choose kindness over criticism.
- Speak up or shut up. Next time you’re engaged with others in a complaint fest, try speaking up to end the complaining, or stop contributing to the conversation. You’ll be surprised at the effect that you, individually, can have on the situation.
- Fix it or accept it. If something is bothering you, either fix it if you can, or accept that nothing can be done about it right now and move on.
When we shift our thinking, we see solutions emerge, and we start noticing more roses instead of staying stuck in the thorns!
What are some ways you shift your perspective when you find yourself struggling through difficult days?
