Negative thoughts come from many different places, but reframing how you think can be beneficial to your mental health. Here are some healthy ways to challenge negative thoughts when they arise.
Ask yourself why you are thinking the negative thought. Perhaps you made a small error in class and think to yourself, “I’m the worst student ever.” Ask yourself: Is there any evidence to back up this thought? Are you really the worst or did you just make a small error? Did you receive bad grades or not turn in any work? Would one bad grade constitute failure? Have you done anything that could work against this thought, such as receiving a high mark on a quiz or finishing your homework days before a deadline?
Talk to yourself as if you were speaking to the child version of yourself, somewhat like that recent trend on Tik Tok. Think to yourself: would I tell the child version of myself that they were the worst student just because they made a mistake? What about a friend? Try to treat yourself the way you treat other people. Afford yourself the benefit of the doubt.
Looking at the situation positively, how is it different? Is there another side of the story? For instance, instead of focusing on how you made a mistake, think of how you are learning that waiting until the last minute to do your homework may lead to stress. Or, you should give yourself some slack, you were working a lot that week and sometimes certain priorities take precedence.
In any case, challenging negative thoughts can get you in the habit of seeing more positive aspects of life. It can also help you defeat insecurities.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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