Goodbye negative thoughts! Time to reboot.

Have you ever had those days where all the positive things in your life are illuminated? You’re in this state of total gratitude. Sometimes it’s triggered by just one smile or text from someone. Or maybe you got really good news about your job and it sent you off into a spiral of good vibes. 

In this mindset, anything that might be challenging is A-Okay because you’ve got the mojo to tackle anything that comes your way! 

Those are great days!

And then there are the days where it’s swapped.

"One negative thing happens, you are triggered and now all you can see are the problems in your world and they suddenly seem way bigger than anyone else understands."

Oh hi, human! Nice to see you here, I’m human too!

As humans, we are programmed to see those negative situations and ruminate on them. We overthink them to the point that it actually might not all be factual. It just triggered some of the other icky feelings we’ve had in the past and so it’s now glorified. 

Things like:

A negative text from your spouse’s ex brings back all the negative feelings from the custody battle years ago.

Your daughter not cleaning the kitchen like she said she would, reminds you of how everyone in the household doesn’t appreciate all that you do.

Your ex writes a negative review about your business trying to defame you and suddenly you can’t stop thinking about all of the things you thought you let go.

And sometimes, it’s just that dang corner in the laundry room that you keep running into that causes you to stub your toe, lose your temper and remember how much you never wanted a dog in the first place.

Yep, now it’s the dog’s fault too. Everyone is against you and you are spiraling….

It happens to the best of us. 

And it’s okay, It really is. Having those feelings is important. It’s when it becomes chronic that it’s dangerous. 

So here are 10 things we do over here at our house to switch that negative mindset and reboot into positivity (try just one or try them all!):

1. Accept that you are not perfect and allow yourself to be imperfect. Made a mistake? Express one lesson you have learned from it and move on.

2. Stop the victim mentality. Take responsibility! Yes, it’s hard, but once you do, it’s amazing how quickly your thoughts change. 

3. More love. Less fear. Negativity is there because of fear. Something has threatened us and we are triggered into feeling fear. Fear of not being good enough, not being loved, rejected, shamed… Do something immediately that comes from a place of love. Hug your spouse. Send a loving text to a friend. 

4. Have a go-to song that you can’t help but smile when you hear it. Open your Spotify and hit play and sing the dang song out loud. 

5. Write down 3 things you are so grateful for. Here’s mine: Sweet text messages from my husband. Chloe cleaned her room without me asking! Being outside for that long morning walk.

6. Don’t compare yourself to others. This is dangerous! Because by the way - you are a BAD ASS!

7. Write down 3 amazing things that you will accomplish this week.

8. Remember that not only is tomorrow a new day, next hour is a new hour… you still have today.

9. Go do something nice for someone. Like bring in the neighbor’s trash cans or leave a random nice note on someone’s car. 

10. Roll your shoulders back, lift your head up and take ten deep breaths. Everything is going to be okay.