Destructive thoughts: 5 ways to avoid them
The human brain processes a huge amount of thoughts a day, every hour and every minute. Some of them are conscious thoughts, and others are automatic or unconscious; that is, they emerge involuntarily into consciousness. Between the seconds some are destructive thoughts , which affect our personal lives much more than we can imagine. A destructive thought acquires such a category when it is given excessive importance, which may end up leading to a bad habit.
To visualize the problem, imagine that we have a negative thought from the first moment we open our eyes. If when we wake up we have in mind "how bad the day will go" for some reason and, we repeat it throughout the day, what will be the result? It is supine evidence that nothing will go well. This will lead to a general malaise: apathy, fatigue, anger or sadness. The crux of the matter lies in the unconsciousness of these thoughts but, in addition, we must take into account how complicated it is to eliminate these mental images.
- Related article: "The 9 types of thought and their characteristics"
The 4 most common destructive thoughts
Next we will present the 4 most common destructive thoughts.
1. Requirement
It is one of the great variables of negative thinking. Modern society requires atrocious competition , of human values based on professional achievements. When we resort to the "I must" or "I have to" ignoring the consequences, it is when stress, anxiety and worry are installed in our nervous system. We have to make way for "I want" or "I can". Everyone should be aware of their possibilities and capabilities.
2. Generalization
Having a destructive view of reality that surrounds us is another of the great dilemmas. When we focus our thoughts on affirmations like "what's wrong with me" or "I never do anything right", we tend to falsely generalize about the bad in any step we take . We have to delve into the positive points of our day to day.
3. Labels
When we label ourselves, we end up believing that we are one way or another. "I'm not good at this or that," "I'm lazy." The repetition of these assertions internalize our way of projecting our personality. Also, even if others tell us, we have to avoid paying attention to it. It is extremely important to love yourself and make yourself worth to be happy.
- Related article: "Stereotype threat: unconscious self-discrimination"
4. Catastrophism
Many people suffer from chronic negative thoughts from the time they get up until they go to sleep. Ideas and beliefs like "I'm not going to get away with mine" or "I have bad luck" do nothing but aggravate the situation. It is not a matter of putting a good face on bad weather, but of trying to minimize the damage and, especially, not anticipate events creating new problems where they do not exist. Premature worry makes good personal development impossible.
The 5 keys to ending negative thoughts
Very often we human beings recognize the problem we have or the mental blocks we suffer, but more often it is still not knowing how to face them. In the following lines we will review the five most prized tips to combat destructive thoughts.
1. Healthy environment
All individuals are born, grow and become entrenched in a specific family and social environment. The characteristics of these can determine in a transcendental way our way of seeing things. If we are part of a family fabric, friends or small groups where the bad environment reigns, It will cost a lot to get out of the loop . Breaking with these ties will be the first step to overcome the negative dynamics.
2. Accept everyday difficulties
In our childhood and as our youth advances until we reach adulthood, we always have the perception that everything is going uphill. It is nothing more than that, a false perception, since in the first years of life, in most cases, we do not try so hard to achieve what makes us happy. However, when we get older, we have to take care of those responsibilities and unforeseen difficulties. Coping with these situations using the right strategies helps prevent destructive thoughts.
3. Avoid envy
It is one of the big problems of negative feelings. Wanting what others have, whether material or immaterial goods, is a clear sign of envy, which leads to insecurity and frustration . We must avoid the kind of beliefs that lead to it, be more grateful in life and, above all, be realistic and know that there will always be someone above us in some quality.
4. Recognize our weaknesses
As it usually happens in all aspects of life, the first step in solving a problem is to identify the weak point of ourselves that exposes it. In this case, society "obliges" us to hide this characteristic. The social sanctions are very accentuated when we expose these deficiencies, but we must know how to face these situations to improve and not fall into self-humiliation. Self-esteem is fundamental in this aspect , we can recognize the failure and still combat the negativity.
- Maybe you're interested: "Self-concept: what is it and how is it formed?"
5. Avoid hypercontrol
From small we are educated to have everything under control, and little or very little effort is made to face the unforeseen. That is why, very often, our mental scheme overflows so easily with any anomaly. Even a situation beyond our control, such as weather, usually frustrates us to the point of having a bad day. This does not mean that we should try to restrict our capacity to feel angry, it should simply last as little as possible and experience it constructively.
