If you have ever been overwhelmed with negative thoughts, you are not alone. Everyone experiences negative thoughts every single day. It is part of human nature. We each have many thoughts on a daily basis so negativity will pop up from time to time.
What we focus on becomes our reality. Our self-esteem takes a small hit every time we focus on a negative thought. Over time it can really wear and tear on our mental health. This is why it is important to find a way to shift your negative thoughts into more positive ones.
First of all, we need to be aware of our negative thoughts and when they occur. Listen to your inner voice that is talking. If you are telling yourself statements such as “I am not good enough,” “I suck,” or “I will never be great,” then you are experiencing negativity. What makes these thoughts worse is when you really believe in them.
Positive thoughts are very important for ball players since we experience so much failure within the game. The failures can easily turn into negative thoughts, which will take us down into slumps. It is important to learn how to deal with the negativity and shift to embracing it as each failure is an opportunity for growth.
So how do we change our negative thoughts into positive ones?
Practice Positive Affirmations
This is a great habit to add to your daily routine. Positive affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself out loud or in your mind to boost your confidence and self-esteem. Repeat each statement at least three times. This can be done anytime throughout the day, but I find it most helpful in the morning because it sets the tone for your thoughts.
Practice mindfulness meditation
First and foremost, to increase our awareness of our negative thoughts, it is best to practice mindful meditation. The goal is to focus on your breath and to allow your thoughts to come and go. Find a quiet place and practice taking deep breaths. Find a steady rhythm such as a 4 second inhale, a 2 second hold, and a 6 second exhale.
From here, you will experience your thoughts. They may come rushing in, but your goal is to acknowledge that they exist, dissociate from them, and come back to focusing on your breath. When you dissociate from the negative thoughts, they hold no meaning to you anymore and you are able to create a clean slate.
Replace them with positive thoughts
When we notice a negative thought throughout the day, we can immediately replace it with something positive. We will have negative thoughts, but when we say something positive right after, we can stop the negative feelings that we have and start to create more positivity. The only way for this to work is to ensure the statement you make is believable to you. We will believe in the positive statement and create positive feelings that will boost our self-esteem.
To make them believable, you can replay a time where the statement was true. A great example would be a memorable experience that brings you joy and confidence such as a time you hit a home run or struck out the hottest batter in the league.
Negative thoughts are just apart of life, but they do not have to control you. Through the advice above, you can take control of them and start to shift to having more positive thoughts. You will change your entire view on life.
