Feel the difference when you change your mindset

When creating a #healthylifestyle, the first thing we do is outline what we want to achieve.

Then we recognise what is stopping us from moving forward to achieve them.

However the mixture of self-praise and self-doubt spiral together like a load of chatter in our minds. Making it hard to really believe that good can happen, and hard to see how the criticisms are not real.

So we need to calm that chatter!

The positives speak for themselves. They are things we love, value and feel great about. We have the confidence to do them and rarely do we second guess them.

It is the negatives that hold us back.

The natural instinct is to ignore, block or just shut them away as though they don't matter, or if they will go away themselves. Sadly, this is not the case. If we ignore them then they keep hold of our subconscious mind and actually stop us achieve new things.

You know the feeling when you ask people to help you and they always say no. So you know they will always say no. Yet you still ask them in the same way - without reason, excitement or sharing value to them.

So of course, the same patterns will get the same results! And our negative thoughts are no different.

Our negative thought patterns can be one of 10 common types. Each type links to a specific way of thinking, and it is more than likely any negative thoughts you have fit to the same one or two types.

1. Black and white thinking: This type of thinking includes words like “always,” “never,” “nothing,” and “everything.” It’s erroneously viewing things strictly as right or wrong, good or bad, with no grey areas.

2. Mind reading: Making assumptions about other people’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. When it comes right down to it, you don’t know what other people think.

3. Fortune-telling: When you predict an outcome and believe it as fact, you are fortune-telling. It’s a fear, not a fact.

4. Overgeneralising: Predicting that a negative will be true in the future based on an experience you’ve had in the past. Again, it’s a fear, not a fact.

5. Minimising: Discounting the positive that is present or undervaluing your accomplishments.

6. Maximising: The opposite of minimising, maximising is exaggerating the importance of one negative event and letting it overshadow the good.

7. Unrealistic expectations: Expecting perfection or demanding more than what is reasonable for yourself is a negative habit many of us have.

8. Should statements: Using “should”, “ought”, or “must” statements can impose unrealistic expectations and undue pressure on yourself and others. This kind of thinking does not help you. It’s just as easy to think in ways that encourage and support you.

9. Personalising: Taking responsibility for something that is not your fault. It’s also thinking that other people’s actions or moods are in some way related to you.

10. Catastrophising: Is overestimating the chances of disaster and focusing only on potential negative outcomes. It’s believing your fear that something unbearable or intolerable is going to happen.

But rather than sticking to these, you can change them. It won't change over night but, like any health habit, if you stick to it and put in your whole self, then you will make the changes needed.

Here are some examples of some easy shifts to make. If you mind starts thinking the negative, say the positive to yourself 5 times. Every time you drift back, then repeat it.

Or if your negative thoughts are different, alter the positive to fit. But be willing to see it and let yourself feel it.

To build your healthy lifestyle you need to build that self confidence, so you need to be willing to make these changes.

Still struggling? Then send me a message or email to [email protected] Just let me know YOUR negative line and I will send you a positive back. Or if your barrier for great health is more than just a line, I would love to hear more.