What Really Happens When You Control Your Negative Thoughts? | Ep. 23
Common sense, Buddhism, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) all tell us that frequent negative thinking causes problems for us. Depression and anxiety are both marked by higher than normal negative thinking, and you even feel bad in your body when your thoughts are pessimistic or hurtful to yourself.
This all makes sense, but many people think they’ll never have the discipline to meditate or the time to do CBT exercises and finally be rid of negative thinking. But if they knew what awaits them on the other side, I think a lot more people would buckle down and do what it takes to get their negative thinking under control.
Freedom to Be in the Here and Now
Ram Dass famously titled his breakthrough book Be Here Now. The title is part of what made the book so popular: it immediately gets to the point of all spiritual seeking. When we aren’t thinking over what happened in the past or might happen in the future, we have all of our mental resources devoted to life in the present.
And guess what? All life is lived in the present. That means you can wring so much more joy out of your moments on earth. Now, it doesn’t mean that nothing bad will ever happen again or that you’ll never feel a second of pain for the rest of your days. But it does mean that you will move past that pain more quickly, and you’ll not have to feel bad now because of a possible future pain.
Thoughts Become Actions
When it comes to our happiness, the words we speak and actions we take are always more powerful than the ones we think — but everything starts with how we think and feel inside.
When we control our negative thoughts, we become a much more positive presence in our families and communities. That creates a snowball effect, where people see us as positive and so they reciprocate. Over time, we learn to be more outgoing and engaged with others than we might have been otherwise.
By ending a pattern of thinking, we eventually change the whole pattern of our life.
Unlock Energy
If the recent increase in energy drink consumption tells us anything, it’s that people are tired. But no matter how much caffeine you consume, your body will eventually adapt, and you’ll need those four Red Bulls a day just to feel normal.
But when you get negative thinking under control, you tap into more energy than you knew you had. Using strategies to fight negative self talk (like CBT) can help fight depression. With a positive inner monologue, we feel more alert, energetic, and ready to take on the day ahead.
