4 easy habits to stop negative thinking

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Lately, the world can feel like a lot to handle. There’s so much going on that’s out of our control, and it’s easy to fall into habits that don’t really help us. Sometimes our own thoughts can make things even harder, adding to our stress and sadness.

So what can we do about it? Everyone is different, of course, but a few gentle ideas shared by a social media user named heal.yourself.first are worth thinking about.

Our thoughts shape the way we act—but sometimes, our actions can shape the way we think, too. With that in mind, what if you tried going a whole week without complaining?

I know, that sounds tough! Complaining helps us blow off steam when life feels heavy. But as heal.yourself.first reminds us, giving it up for just one week can be a powerful reset. (And don’t worry—random, unwanted thoughts aren’t the same as complaining, so they don’t count.)

It might sound a little silly, but staying stuck in negativity can almost become a habit. Sometimes, we even think it’s helping because it feels like we’re “doing something” about our problems. But running through endless “what if” thoughts usually just makes our hearts race faster and feeds our anxiety.

Instead, try this gentle shift: when a negative thought pops up, pause for a second and ask yourself, “Does this deserve my attention right now?”

Sometimes, sitting with a hard thought helps us understand our feelings and move forward. But we don’t need to unpack every single one. A little awareness and kindness toward yourself can go a long way.

This last habit is a lot like the one before it. When we start to worry about the worst that could happen, our first instinct is to prepare for it. That’s only natural. But there’s a big difference between being ready and getting stuck in a loop of “what ifs” that only make us feel worse.

Changing the way we think isn’t easy. It takes time, patience, and a whole lot of kindness toward ourselves. But little by little, it is possible. You might be surprised at how much peace you can find once you start giving yourself some grace.

Want more gentle wisdom about finding joy? Maggie McCormack shares the simple “secret to happiness” she discovered after turning 30—and it just might change the way you see things too.

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