How do you change thoughts?

[Akashic_Librarian]

I am having trouble pulling myself out of a rut I have gotten myself stuck in.

I have had a lot of stress and negativity recently andI can;t seem to get myself out of the cycle of negative thoughts, can some one help me please?

[Ati]

I think that can happen to all of us....

You posted here for some (good ) reason, methinks

So have you phrased an intention to address this?

I personally think that intentions that have generally positive introductions can be particularly good for this sort of situation, since the positive introductions can kinda keep you in that positive frame of mind, even before you get to your specific intention...

Good luck, you'll do it!

[rbwrb]

I've worked a lot on breaking negative thought patterns and one of the most helpful things I've discovered is that when a negative thought arises, you don't have to come up with it's opposite in order to neutralize it. If you just think about something else - and really, it can be anything else at all that's even vaguely positive, including stuff like wondering whats on TV that night - you'll displace the negative thought and that's often all it takes to short-circuit a whole chain reaction where the original thought ("God I'm lonely tonight") gives rise to a whole series of further negative thoughts ("I don't know how I'm ever going to meet anyone") that turns into a miserable, repetitive cycle that leaves you feeling awful ("I feel so trapped and hopeless!")

The key for me is, interrupt the pattern as soon as I realize that I'm thinking something negative. For instance, if you find yourself starting the "I'm lonely" cycle you don't have to convince yourself that you're not lonely to break the pattern. If you can get yourself to think about anything else at all with even the slightest positive slant - and I do mean anything, - your focus will automatically shift and that stops the thought from spiraling into a cycle.

Best of luck to you, and I mean that sincerely. Getting stuck in those negative thought cycles is really awful, I know from my own experience. I hope this helps.

[AndyMartin]

Still your mind.

If my engine overheats, I don't turn the car around and drive home, nor do I change plans and drive it someplace else.

I turn it off.

[Andy]

Not sure if you've checked it out or not, but EFT worked on me for this purpose. I was like bombarded constantly with negative thoughts, the whole "self critic" continually bashing me about anything. after getting familiar with the technique I made it one of my goals to get rid of the self-critic since I read someone else was able to make this happen by dealing with a specific issue. So I went to work on that goal, and after a few months I was able to go for days without that automatic talking down to myself about anything, was really bizarre to be without it for once. one of the big keys for me was dealing with the belief that I was worthless, now that's a belief that can cause problems.. Once the memories surrounding that belief were dealt with, it helped a LOT.

Another method is using cognitive therapy techniques in identifying irrational thoughts and refuting them with rational alternatives. Lots of websites out there with information about it. Here's an example if CT isn't familiar. Say you lost a job. Take the thought "this is so horrible, I'll never be able to find someplace new to work" That would be considered irrational since first of all horrible implies that it's the worst thing that could happen. Is it actually? unlikely as you could probably imagine something much worse happening. the second part of the thought is also irrational, since it's also unlikely that you'd never ever find another place to work. So first you identify the irrationalities, then you replace the thought with a rational one, such as "Even though losing this job was extremely disappointing to me, I can still look for work and get a new job in the future." It's not simply optimistic thinking, it's looking at the situation for what it really is.
This kind of reframing of the situation helps reduce the power of negative thoughts/beliefs and it's what I used before I found out about EFT which IMO can reduce the power completely if you just find the source.

[Richard_Todd]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

I have had a lot of stress and negativity recently andI can't seem to get myself out of the cycle of negative thoughts, can some one help me please?

I think the other replies pretty much covered it--either think of something else, or think of nothing at all. Meditation is great for this if you have time for it. As someone who's recently gotten the hang of that, I want to add that:

• The trick is to recognize the negative thoughts quickly so you know when it's time to stop thinking
• Recognizing negative thoughts in progress gets easier with practice
• For a while--for me, anyway--it seems like the negative thoughts would come back with more force than before. Maybe because I was more aware of them. Maybe because the negative side of me was fighting for survival, in a sense. I just know it seemed like it got harder before it got easier, despite the success I was having

[Baltar]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

I am having trouble pulling myself out of a rut I have gotten myself stuck in.

You'll never break the cycle of negative thoughts until you stop focusing on the rut that you're stuck in. I've been dealing with depression for 7 years. It would come and go randomly, and until recently I didn't think I could do much about it. A few weeks ago when I had a depressive episode, I decided to read Steve's blog post on Overcoming Depression. I was able to get back to no longer being depressed within 24 hours.

I've actually read that blog entry before, but it didn't really sink in. I think that it finally worked because I started to believe that I could do something about the depression myself, that I didn't need to see psychiatrists or take medication or that I had to live with it for the rest of my life. Anyway, the point is that you have to do three things to break out of a negative thoughts cycle:

1) Recognize that you are in fact in a negative thinking cycle. This is crucial, and the shorter the time between the start of the cycle and the time when you recognize that it started, the easier it is to break it. This comes with practice -- the more you do it the faster you'll notice the cycle and break it, eventually making these cycles end before they even start.

2) Once you've recognized that you're in a negative thinking cycle, immediately change your focus to something else. Slap yourself if you have to, and then look out the window and think about the weather, or what you're having for dinner tonight, or how David Copperfield manages to do all those crazy tricks. Just seriously focus on something other than your problem.

3) Once you've interrupted the pattern by doing step 2, and while you're still aware that you're in this whole process, change your focus from the random thing you decided to think about to something in your life that you're happy about. Maybe a recent accomplishment you're proud of, or how grateful you are for having all the things that you have, or for having great friends or how much you love your significant other. Everyone has something positive in their life, or as Tony Robbins would say, "something in your life you feel good about, or could feel good about if you wanted to" (paraphrasing from Personal Power II).

This technique is a combination of what Steve talks about in his Overcoming Depression blog entry, and what Tony Robbins talks about in the Personal Power II audio set. It works because in step 2 you're breaking the neural pattern. If you do this enough times for a specific chain of thoughts, you'll destroy that chain completely. The neurons in the brain will change their connections and the thoughts will no longer be connected on the chemical level. By adding step 3, you're also teaching your brain to come back to a positive state quickly after being knocked into a negative state. You can only fix your problems by doing something about them, and you can only be truly effective when you're in a positive mood.

As far as depression goes I want to give a small disclaimer: I exercise fairly regularly (jogging 3-4 times per week) which is another thing I attribute to helping me fight negative thinking and depression. From what I've read, exercise has been shown to greatly help people who have low levels of serotonin/dopamine/other related chemicals in their brain. I can certainly vouch for that, and recommend exercise to anyone who struggles with depression.

[The Protagonist]

Quick and easy, albeit short term:

I put on a beautiful piece of music, and dance to it, or while it is on I intention what I want. It usually works like this:

1. Recursive negative intention loop begins, I will use that example of being lonely mentioned earlier
2. I reach for my iPod and put on Emilio Estefan's Pennies in my Pocket
3. I dance and remember I have the power to attract friends if I choose to.
4. I remember that all I must do now is wait and recieve

a bit bizzare but it has worked for me

[Frans]

Here's a trick I use to get rid of negative thoughts:
I consider all thoughts as frames in a movie.
Whenever a "bad" frame is projected, I skip it away by saying "I've seen this before. Next." I'll do this until I'm satisfied with the thoughts I have.

I use this trick since more than 20 years and it works every time for me.

[Akashic_Librarian]

Thanks Guys thats great advice

[ImWorthMillions]

I'm relatively new to the whole L of A/manifestation thing, and I've had the same difficulty overcoming negative thoughts, but it's more in the nature of stress over money. Due to a setback where I had no income for a month, I now dread even going to the mailbox for fear of seeing new bills arriving. Little things like that constantly remind me of the predicament I'm in. And I don't blame myself, and am trying to keep positive thoughts and a good attitude.

What's EFT, and could I benefit from it?

For all the positive thoughts, intentions I put out there - maybe 30 minutes devoted to it a day- it seems like my money fears and negative thoughts are creeping into my brain for the the better part of the day.

[mej023]

EFT is Emotional Freedom Technique. It is tapping on energy meridians on your body to free blocked energy. Google it.

You change your thought by reaching for a thought that feels a little better. Look for something to appreciate.

When you are reaching for a thought that feels better, it will attract similar thoughts and you will feel better and better.

[Ibanez]

Is EFT a good technique to use? Or is there a better method available? I realize that everyone has a different preference. Anyone have good resources, either website or books, that I could look at?

[ReallyGoodIdeas]

EFT is brilliant! - see the threads on it here. I've found it's the best and quickest way to drop negative emotions, thoughts and habits. have a go! There's a Beginner's Guide on my homepage.

Joy to you
Hazel

[Acting Like Godot]

Some of us are more skilled than others, in using different techniques to break negative thought cycles. However there is one method that works for everyone, whether you're highly skilled or not.

Go exercise vigorously.

The nervous tension required to sustain your negative thought cycles will be dissipated. That's why people always feel good, after a nice long run or swim or cycle.

[mej023]

Here is an article on breaking negative thoughts from Steve Pavlina.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...ught-patterns/

[munish]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

I am having trouble pulling myself out of a rut I have gotten myself stuck in.

I have had a lot of stress and negativity recently andI can;t seem to get myself out of the cycle of negative thoughts, can some one help me please?

May read this post by Steve Pavlina.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...hest-pounding/

[MarkusL]

Hehe, I just read Steve's blog http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...ught-patterns/ which was suggested by mej023 and it really works! You should try it too!

[dorothy hanna]

Since I first learned about LOA, I've been manifesting a new life for myself, but, as it says in the movie, the secret, I am also living out the residual of my former life. The life I created, by default, before I learned to intend conciously.

I'm also aware that much of that residual life, I'm living does not impact me as it would have in the past.
I still have to go through the process of, "cleaning up", after myself, to make more room for my new life.

As I clean up, the residual life, I gradually make that space for all the new things, and new life, I've been manifesting.

Also, I'm intending forgiveness, in all areas.

"Forgive us our debts, as we, forgive our debtors."

Debts and indebtedness are some of those things created by us, when we were unaware of what we were doing, (before our awareness of the LOA, and living conciously), so if I harbor a bad feeling about the debt I have, and the companies to which I owe it, then the debt remains. When I intend to forgive my debtors, and harbor no ill will, or feelings then the debt fades away.

Paying on my debt, now, is just like sweeping the floor, and cleaning up after myself, when I made a big mess. But, I no longer focus on the balance still owed.

I focus on mercy, and forgiveness, and with each payment I send in, I see the freedom expanding in my life.