Transforming Negative Thoughts into Positive Ones: How Gratitude Can Help You Overcome Challenges

I'm trying to think of a life without negative thoughts. They seem to be everywhere, and sometimes they feel suffocating sometimes don't they? Come to think of it what good have negative thoughts done for us? All I can think about is how it makes us feel unfulfilled, and unhappy, causing stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. That's why gratitude is important, this negativity needs to go! I want to kiss it goodbye. Don't you?

Trying to Understand Negative Thoughts

When I think of my wall of negative thoughts I hear Anita from Disney's 101 Dalmations say, "A 101? My, where did they all come from?" Because that's how it feels sometimes. I know they can come from anywhere, like past experiences and low-self esteem, and they can be the silliest negative thoughts. 

Are you having negative thoughts? Some of the most common are self-doubt and self-criticism, negative expectations, catastrophizing, and overthinking. I'll be honest I checked all of the types of negative thoughts. Its great one recognizes their negative thoughts and recognizes that it can have harmful effects on our mental health and personal growth!  

The Power of Gratitude 

It's time to flip our negative thoughts upside down and harness the power of gratitude. It's not a magical power apparently, and it's easy to do. All you have to do is appreciate the good things in life. Once one appreciates the good things, stress goes down, our relationships get stronger and we're not as as anxious as we once were. Imagining the ice block of negativity melting away in my mind gives me room to decorate or something shouldn't it?  

Transforming Negative Thoughts with Gratitude

You, there is a way to transform all of your negative thoughts into beautiful thoughts with gratitude right? There's always a silver lining when stuff goes bad. Cliche? Perhaps a little, but cliche with a dash of happiness is good! 

One way one can transform negative thoughts into gratitude is by journaling. Take a few minutes at the end of your day to talk about things that you are grateful for that have happened during the day. It doesn't even have to be anything major, a roof over your head and food in your stomach are things to be grateful for. Journaling helps us focus on what really matters in life. 

Another magical trick I've heard about is affirmations and positive messages to ourselves. If there's a negative thought that you can flip and turn into a positive message, repeat the positive message to yourself when you have the old negative thought. I saw a list on Live and Bloom that gives a few examples of common negative messages and ways to replace them, which I may read and use a few of their examples when my negative thoughts come to play in my mind. 

Remember that you're not the only one going through negative thoughts, and building positive relationships with others around you can both make you feel grateful and others feel grateful as well. Gratitude is contagious! It's one of those things that's okay to pass on to others! 

Conclusion

It's time for to start this bit of contagious goodness, we all have the power inside of us. Sometimes it does take a little bit of journaling, some positive words, or even the power of friendship. Even if it takes work, our negative thoughts will eventually evaporate, leaving us happy, and making our life seem more fulfilling!