You Can’t Afford The Luxury Of A Negative Thought

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Dr. Gold, Ph.D, LMHC, is a Licensed and Board Certified Clinical Mental Health counselor, with a Ph.D in psychology, clinical practice.  She’s in private practice at her home office in Fort Salonga, specializing in relationships. A sub
specialty is in integrating holistic methods with traditional ones. She is founding president of Happi Act for autism www.happiact.org www.happiact.org a non- profit organization. She can be reached drgold6@optimum.net

Why would I even suggest negative thinking to be a “luxury?” We each fall into negative thoughts at times and momentarily at least seem to enjoy the indulgence. 
 
Why can’t we afford the luxury of a negative thought?  While our physical environment can cause us discomfort, much of our current agony is the result of our inner environment, our own thoughts.

As proof, say the following negative statements aloud with conviction 3 times each. (In private of course)
“My life is hard and will never get better”
“Why try? Nothing will help”  
“It’s no use, I cannot do this. I’m not good enough.”  

How do you feel? Your mood probably dropped somewhat, you felt heavier, and tired. And that was only indulging in negative thought for less than a minute. If you are frequently or constantly thinking like thoughts, you would probably begin to feel really depressed, anxious, and angry much of the time. 

Now say the following positive statements aloud with conviction 3 times each:
“There is much good in my life; I am grateful.”
“I will try.  Things can change.”
“I’m as good as the best, and better than the rest. I can do this.”

How do you feel? Probably elevated, lighter and energized? A few seconds of positive thinking made you feel good in body and mind.  Imagine if you were thinking like thoughts the majority of the time. You’d begin to feel elevated, lighter, energized and more joyful, despite undesirable outward circumstances. And feeling more empowered to change or deal with those difficult outward circumstances. Our internal environment, how we think, is more influential than we believe, and often more so than our external environment, that is, what’s happening in our outer world.  

In our responses to life if one has the habit of primarily negative thinking, this can be so habitual as to be automatic. Like all habits, that can be changed through conscious effort by. 
1) Becoming aware of our thoughts
2) Becoming aware of our bodily and mental responses
3) Changing thoughts which don’t work. 

Understand that nobody is suggesting we deny reality. Some things that happen are downright painful and unjust; that cannot be denied. However it is often possible to extract the positive even within those circumstances. Others have done so. Whatever your circumstances, so can you!  

Wishing you much luck and many blessings along the way.