In times of change, change your thinking

Do you feel anxious or stressed about a situation? It's often not the situation itself, but our thoughts that are causing these emotions. What’s on your mind — or what?you think — is determined by?how?you think. Being aware of an irrational thought helps you to challenge it and replace it?with more constructive and optimistic thinking. It will require some practice, but over time you?will develop more emotional flexibility, the ability to be responsive to changes and the resilience to bounce back when things are difficult.?

Here are 7 tips to help you rethink.

1. Identify Irrational Beliefs: Recognize and challenge irrational beliefs that contribute to stress. This involves acknowledging and disputing thoughts that are exaggerated, unrealistic, or unhelpful. For instance, something is not going to plan and you belief it is because everyone is always against you. Question whether this is really the case, surely not all the people on the planet are against you! Think about people that have been supportive and helpful in your life. The more you will think about this, the more examples will arise and help you to rationalize your thoughts and balance your emotions.
2. Question Your Thoughts:?When facing a stressful situation, question the accuracy and validity of your thoughts. Ask yourself if there is evidence to support your beliefs or if they are based on assumptions.?
3. Reframe Negative Thoughts:?Practice reframing negative thoughts into more balanced and realistic perspectives. Look for alternative explanations or interpretations of the situation that are less distressing.?
4. Practice Mindfulness:?Engage in mindfulness exercises to become more aware of your thoughts without judgment. This can help you observe your thinking patterns and respond to them more rationally.
5. Use Affirmations and Positive Self-Talk:?Counter negative thoughts with positive affirmations and self-encouragement. Repeat positive statements to challenge and replace negative self-talk.
6. Seek Evidence: Look for evidence that supports or refutes your thoughts. This can help you develop a more balanced and evidence-based view of the situation.
7. Consider the Worst-Case Scenario:?Assess the realistic impact of the situation and consider the worst-case scenario. Give it a value from 1 to 10, 10 being the worst, and rate your current situation.? Often, you may find that the perceived consequences are not as severe as initially imagined.

I hope you will find this helpful and I look forward to hearing your experiences and insights.