“Are You a Negative Thinker?”
|
No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.
- Barbara De Angelis - success quote
Barbara sought my help because of her chronic fatigue.
She had been going to different kinds of doctors and trying different nutrition plans for years and nothing was helping her.
One of the doctors suggested that she try psychotherapy.
In became evident early in our work together than Barbara was deeply addicted to thinking the worst. Constant negativity went through her mind about every aspect of her life. She would get out of her car and worry about getting robbed.
In social situations, she would tell herself that people didn’t like her. She was always worried about money, even though she was a successful graphic designer. Her husband could never do anything right. There was something wrong with every doctor she saw.
Negative thinking causes much stress in the body. I told Barbara to imagine that she was telling these negative thoughts to a child. How would the child feel most of the time?
Barbara could see that this child would, of course, feel anxious and stressed much of the time in response to all the negativity and catastrophic thinking.
The medical profession has long told us that stress is one of the leading causes of illness. Stress sets into motion the body’s fight or flight response, pouring cortisol into the body and eventually exhausting the adrenal glands. Adrenal exhaustion can be one of the results of so much negative thinking.
While Barbara could understand the possible effect her negative thinking was having on her health, it was extremely challenging for her to give up her negative thinking. Barbara deeply believed that her negative thinking kept her safe from disappointment. She believed that thinking the negative thought before the bad thing would happen prepared her to deal with it. She didn’t want to be caught off guard. She believed that she could not handle the pain of disappointment, so that if she knew about it ahead of time and actually expected it, she wouldn’t feel disappointed.
In addition, Barbara believed that if she was vigilant enough and thought through all the bad things that could happen, she could prevent them. She believed that by thinking ahead, she could somehow have control over the outcome of things.
Finally, Barbara also believed that she could control how people felt about her by acting right and saying the right thing. She was constantly vigilant about her behavior with others in her attempts to control how they felt about her and treated her.
However, in trying to control her feelings, others’ feelings and the outcome of things, Barbara may have been causing her illness. The underlying cause of her negative thinking was her devotion to this control.
The problem with all of this is that it is based on an illusion – the illusion of control. The fact is that Barbara could not foresee every event that could cause her some pain. She was devastated every time something happened that she had not thought of beforehand. How could something painful come out of the blue like that? How could she have not foreseen it?
The paradox of all of this is that, in trying to foresee future catastrophes, Barbara was not present in the moment. Real safety is in being present in the moment so we can respond appropriately to whatever is happening in the moment. When we are fully present in the moment, we are available to receiving information from our inner Guidance. All of us have a Source of Guidance that is always available to us, and that is here to help us and protect us. But we can access our Guidance only when we are fully present in the moment, not when we are trying to control the future.
Barbara is in the process of becoming more aware of her negative thinking. She is not yet healthy, but she has some better days now, days that are lighter and more fun.
Moving out of negative thinking is a process that takes time. If you are a negative thinker, you have been practicing this form of thinking your whole life. It is not going to stop in a day. But if you tune into the stress you feel and learn to connect your stress with your negative thinking, you can slowly change this pattern.
Vitality and joy can be the result of letting go of your negative thinking and learning to be present in the moment.
About the Author
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or email her at margaret@innerbonding.com.
Free Daily Motivational Self Improvement inspirational quotes and motivation website created by Strategic Services with copyright all rights reserved. The Inspirational quotes daily motivation article daily motivation content for self esteem activity, self motivation and self improvement articles in website self help book for inspirational quotes and free motivational self improvement daily motivation can be used by other webmasters as long as the article includes an active link to our site.
Well, neither does bathing. That's why we recommend it daily."
-- Zig Ziglar
Try a local search of our site for your answers
Subscribe to "Motivational Power Tips!" free magazine.
Inspiring motivation from some of the best coaches in the world
Check out our ARCHIVED EDITIONS
Free Daily Motivational Self Improvement tips motivation article about self improvement tips and daily motivation for self esteem activity, self motivation tips and 404 self improvement tips self help book for daily motivational self improvement activities. 
Get your own Self Help Library of 73 Powerful Books!
FREE Audio E-book: The Anatomy of a Goal
In this fast-paced audio presentation The GoalsGuy will teach you the three mandatory components of goal achievement and success. Great ideas on mastering the fundamentals!
Click here now to download your FREE copy!
Get Your FREE NLP eBook!
It's a Five Chapter eBook revealing powerful secrets to
boost your self-esteem, increase your confidence and much
more....
Click Here! http://www.NLPToolBox.com
Click here to make your own website just like I have
Simple & fast - no need for webmaster skills!
FREE! SUBSCRIBE TODAY and receive
Jim Rohn's Free Weekly E-zine featuring Current Articles, Interviews, Motivational Quotes & Vitamins for the Mind available ONLY to you as a Subscriber!
Click to learn more about Jim Rohn Free Motivational Newsletter
Free Daily Motivational Self Improvement motivation article about Negative Thinker inspirational quotes and daily motivation for self esteem activity, self motivation tips and self improvement articles in website self help book and giving visitors the 365 Daily Success Quotes - free self help book of inspiring quotes .
Back to inspirational quotes and Daily Motivational Self Improvement HOME PAGE
About Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Famous Quotes | Link Directory
===========================================================
SITE DISCLAIMER: The motivational self improvement articles and inspirational quotes and daily motivation self help books and personal development resources on this site are not intended to be a substitute for therapy or professional advice. While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. There is no guarantee of validity of accuracy of any motivational self improvement content. Any perceived slight of specific people or organizations is unintentional. This motivational self improvement articles and self help books and personal development articles website and its creators are not responsible for the content of any sites linked to.
The motivational self improvement articles and inspirational quotes and daily motivation self help book and new health articles website contents are solely the opinion of the author and should not be considered as a form of therapy, advice, direction and/or diagnosis or treatment of any kind: medical, spiritual, mental or other. If expert advice or counseling is needed, services of a competent professional should be sought. The author and the Publisher assume no responsibility or liability and specifically disclaim any warranty, express or implied for any products or services mentioned, or any techniques or practices described. The purchaser or reader of this motivational self improvement website publication assumes responsibility for the use of these motivational self improvement materials and information. Neither the author nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of any purchaser or reader of these motivational self improvement materials.
This free motivational self improvement site contains: inspirational quotes and daily motivation inspirational quotes and motivational self improvement articles, about Free Daily Motivational Self Improvement motivation article about daily motivation for self esteem activity and self improvement articles in website self help book for free daily motivational self improvement daily motivation Motivational self improvement, about inspirational quotes and motivation poems for daily motivation, motivation article, motivational sports quotes, about inspirational quotes and motivational inspirational quote, inspiring quote, self improvement books, inspirational quotes and motivational story, inspirational quotes and daily motivation motivational saying, self motivation, about self esteem article, inspirational quotes and confidence quotes and self esteem activity, motivating quotes and self improvement article, self help book. Free Daily Motivational Self Improvement motivation article inspirational quotes about daily motivation for inspirational quotes and self esteem activity and self improvement articles in website self help book for free daily motivational self improvement daily motivation. Free Daily Motivational Self Improvement motivation article about inspirational quotes and daily motivation for self esteem activity and self improvement articles in website self help book for free daily motivational self improvement daily motivation.
===========================================================
