How To Defeat Negative Thought Patterns

Source: Secret Achiever Formula

Perhaps you're the type of person who has a bad habit of thinking too much about negative thoughts. To describe that perfectly, that's negative thinking, such as "I'm so sad", "I cannot do it", or "I feel ugly." How do you eliminate a bad habit when it is totally dwelling in your mind?

Here is a simple technique I use to squash negative patterns of thought. It is actually a method I derived from combining the memory technique termed as chaining and swish pattern based from NLP. This technique really works fine for me.

So instead of resisting the negative pattern, what you will do is to redirect it. Get the energy of that negative thought pattern then rechannel it to positive thought pattern. With some mental conditioning, once the negative pattern of thought occurs, the mind will involuntarily flow directly to the positive thought.

Here how it is done…

Assuming the negative thought you experience is subvocalization, meaning, you hear a voice in the back of your head saying something like "I am stupid." If it is a mental image (visual) or kinesthetic (gut feeling), the same exercise applies. In most cases the negative thought comes in combination of visual, kinesthetic and auditory.

Step 1: Turn your negative thought to a mental image

Use that voice then turn it to a mental picture that is somewhat related to what you hear. For instance, if the thought says "I'm stupid," visualize yourself dressed foolishly, wearing dunce cap and jumping like an idiot. Now imagine that you are surrounded by many people who are all looking at you while you're shouting "I'm stupid." Do this process again and again until arrive at a point where thinking of this negative thought instantly brings up this funny imagery.

However, if you find it hard to visualize, you can do it in auditory fashion. The same process goes applies. Just translate your negative thought in a sound, such as a funny jingle you can sing.

Step 2: Find and replace it with an empowering thought

Instead of having a negative thought, replace it with a positive thought that you like. So if you're thinking "I'm stupid,' then you can replace it with "I'm smart." Choose a positive thought that can empower you wherein that will disrupt the effect of the negative thought to yourself.

Step 3: Turn your positive thought into a mental image

Do the same process stated in step number 1 to generate a new image from your positive thought. For instance, using the example "I'm smart," visualize yourself posing like a professional, standing tall with your head high. Imagine a huge bulb located above your head. Now the bulb turns on as bright as the sun, and you see yourself shouting proud, "I'm sssmmmaaarrrttt!" Again, repeat this process until it will automatically bring up this associated imagery.

Step 4: Psychologically chain the 2 images together

Use the images you've visualized in step number 1 and 3 then combine them together in your mind. Now try to animate the 1^st scene to the 2^nd scene. Pretend that you are making a movie and you're the director. You have an opening scene and closing scene. The only thing left unfinished is the middle scene of the movie. Now use your imagination to create a scene that will make up the middle scene, which will eventually lead to the final scene.Once you have the whole scene finalized, rehearse it mentally. Do it again and again until you can do it as fast as you can.

Step 5:  Test

Now test your mental redirecting ability to know if it works. Just by thinking of a negative thought will immediately redirect your mind to think of a positive thought. If you do this exercise correctly, the faster the results will be. These negative thoughts you have in mind are the stimuli that causes the mind to run the entire pattern automatically. And so whenever you think, "I'm stupid," even if you're not fully aware, you'll end up thinking, "I'm smart."

As long as you keep practicing this exercise, the faster you will master it. It will be difficult at first, but that's just normal. That's part of the learning process so don't give up.

True Story: How I Went From Sick, Broke And Stupid To Making $800/day… by using 1 simple, easy success principle known as the Secret Achiever Formula

If I can do it, I truly believe you can achieve the success that has been escaping you so far.

Edited by: Lawyer Asad