Center Founder Richard Davidson shares nine ways to stop being negative, whether it's noticing the good in ourselves and others or noticing our environment and emotions.
The problem with positive thinking as an approach is that it operates at the surface level of conscious thoughts. It does nothing to contend with the subconscious mind where negative self-talk and limiting beliefs really live. If you've tried thinking positively, you know that it can be a difficult habit to maintain.
Pick something you are really passionate about, create your dream around it, visualize it and focus on it. Change your thoughts to change your life. The thoughts you are holding in your conscious and subconscious being, reflect in your mind and your mind shapes the thoughts, whether it is positive or negative.
Which part of brain is responsible for positive thinking?
Positive Thoughts
Positive emotions impact the brain's prefrontal cortex - located in the front of the brain. When the prefrontal cortex is activated, there is an increase in activity and zeal.
Spiraling negative thoughts can be a result of overthinking. This tends to happen when we have few distractions – which is why lying awake at night churning things over in our mind is a familiar feeling to many. At the time, negative thoughts may seem completely rational and logical. So we believe them to be true.
It's natural to feel more pessimistic when things aren't going so well in our lives. Regular or even constant negative thinking can also be a sign of anxiety, depression, stress or low self-esteem. This sounds a bit strange, but negativity can also be contagious.
Generally speaking, it does not make them disappear, but can instead cause them to come out differently2 (so, you might yell at your child when you're really upset about a situation at work). Negative emotions signal that what you are doing in your life isn't working.
Often overthinking is a byproduct of anxiety or depression. If this is the case, you can treat your anxiety or depression to reduce overthinking. You may also find that overthinking only materializes when you need to make a tough life decision or are dealing with your insecurities.
When intrusive thoughts or obsessions become uncontrollable to the point that they are affecting daily function, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be the explanation. OCD-intrusive thoughts that occur repeatedly throughout the day are unhealthy and interfere with quality of life.
How long does it take to train your brain to think positive?
To do that, spend one minute looking for positives, three times a day for forty five days. This trains your brain to look for positives the way it is already trained to look for negatives. You may think there aren't enough positives in the awful world around you.
Negative self-talk can come from a place of depression, low self-confidence, and anxiety and be part of a more significant mental health concern. However, you may also have habits that are causing negative self-talk. Some of these habits include: Not addressing relationship problems.
