5 Ways to Deal with the Negative Chatter in Your Head

Preventing the build up of obstacles in your imagination is easier than you think.

Motivational Guru, the late Zig Ziglar liked to quip, “People say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing, that’s why we recommend it daily!”

So it is with the way we think and yes, even the most positive thinkers need to keep themselves in check.

Here are 5 ways to deal with the negative chatter that might be going on in your noggin:

1. Catch it.

We tend not to hear our own inner, less-than-enthusiastic, words. So — start to catch it! Try to keep a mental log of your negative self-talk. Set a phone alarm for every few hours to check in with yourself and see if you are carrying on an undesirable conversation with yourself. See if you can catch what your head is saying!

2. Purge it.

Write the negative chatter out on paper. Don’t hold back. Just empty your mind of useless fears, opinions, and sarcasm. Seeing the words will help you to pivot and change your attitude. (This also goes for envy. As the saying goes, “Envy is the thief of joy.”)

3. Give your thoughts a consequence.

Reward yourself for your positive thinking. Something as simple as a cup of coffee or a piece of your favorite chocolate can help train your brain to eliminate destructive thinking.

4. Hold that good thought.

In his all-time best seller, The Power of Positive Thinking, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale made this suggestion:

“Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop the picture… Do not build up obstacles in your imagination.”

5. Talk back.

Whenever you hear a negative comment in your head, act like a defense lawyer and talk back to it. Argue for the other side, the other angle that points to what is useful, instead of what is harmful. It’s a case you can surely win, since you’re also the judge!

Remember, negative thoughts are like weeds and will grow on their own, while positive views are like flowers that require regular watering and care. The results of your daily optimism will allow you to enjoy the blossoms of success.