Giving up Negativity

Be vigilant: guard your mind against negative thoughts. –Buddha

Positivity Quest Day 348. It took me 82 days at the beginning of this positivity quest to stop having my negative words and thoughts control me. I had no idea when I began how many negative thoughts I was even having in a day, but I did a little research. Humans have on average between 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts per day, or approximately a new thought every 1.2 seconds. Other research has suggested that for many people 80% of these thoughts are negative.

This seems a little unbelievable at first glance, but truly spend one day watching and you will be surprised. Actually just read the newspaper or watch the news and the statistics will find their factual basis. The miracle in this is that you can turn this bad thinking habit around with a commitment to do so and a vigilant practice to eradicate these thoughts.

During my study I found the wrist band technique which helped me ground the practice in the physical world. Choose a bracelet or wrist band that is inspiring and that you can actually feel/notice when you wear it. Each time you have a negative thought you move the bracelet to the other arm. It may seem like a few days that might be all you are doing.

I am a walking testimonial to the success of this technique. Start watching what you say to others. This is the first level of getting rid of negativity. You will be amazed at the impact this one practice has on all your relationships. The more challenging practice is bringing the elimination of negativity internal to how you talk to yourself.

Negative self talk can be so insidious that you don’t even see it coming. Truly as amazing as it is to change your thoughts with others, it is even more profound on yourself. Getting rid of the onslaught of negative self talk gives the positive thoughts a chance to grow and thrive. A single positive intention can wipe out hundreds of negative ideas but often the positive thought is not given the chance to take hold.

The Dalai Lama summed it up like this: “Basically we are all the same human beings with the same potential to be a good human being or a bad human being… The important thing is to realize the positive side and try to increase that: realize the negative side and try to reduce. That’s the way.”

Life potential is waiting just beyond the negativity that is nothing more than a bad thinking habit.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Donald M.

6:31AM PST on Jan 10, 2013

Having grown up in a home with a pessimist for a father and the equivalent of Rachel Drach's character from Sat Nite Live, Debbie Downer for a mother, this is something I needed. Thanks.

January 10
send a green star

Ken W.

2:50PM PST on Jan 9, 2013

AWESOME

January 9
send a green star

Elaine A.

10:56PM PDT on Aug 15, 2012

Chalk board say it all!

August 15
send a green star

Latanya S.

5:46PM PDT on Jul 24, 2012

Thanks for posting. Each day I have noticed i have gotten worse with the negitive thoughts. Its is hurting me and the people around me even my son. I need something to help with the negitive thoughts and this website really have a lot of great things on here.

July 24
send a green star

Nimue P.

3:10AM PDT on May 2, 2012

Noted.

May 2
send a green star

Carole R.

12:55PM PDT on Aug 18, 2011

Some good info here. I think life will always have it's negative aspect. I mean, it IS life. I think all we can do is deal with the negative things we can change. Many negative situations actually do have a positive to them all well. Looking for it sometimes helps reduce the pain and hardship.