13 Powerful Tips for Overcoming Negative Thoughts and Gaining Control of Your Mind

There is no complete right or complete wrong, it’s just the way you want ot see it. Your life is a reflection of your mental wiring. It impacts everything, your health, career, family. So, here I share 13 powerful tips to overcome negative thoughts.

That harrowing feeling of hopelessness and helplessness hammering in your brain, it’s nothing but the voice of your negative thoughts. It’s consuming and frustrating, yet for some strange reason, you can’t seem to shake it off. 

Does that make you a bad person?

Thinking negatively, does that make you a pessimist?

Many feel guilty about their negative thoughts!

I have counselled many patients in my career, who suffered from anxiety and grief. The root cause of their mental agony lies in their negative thinking. And the worst part is that they feel they can’t do anything about it!

Understanding your negative thoughts

Firstly, negative thoughts do not make you a bad person. But acting on those thoughts is bad. Letting these thoughts impair your judgement is bad. And more importantly, dwelling on them harms your health.

Secondly, it’s not true that you can’t do anything about these thoughts. There are many ways to get hold of your thoughts. Every person in this world battles the diabolical voice in the head, but it’s upon them whether to entertain it or banish it!

In this blog, I bring you 13 Powerful tips to overcome negative thoughts. These simple tips are shared by the legends themselves. And it has brought them not only mental peace but also physical health. Check these out.

13 Powerful tips to overcome negative thoughts

1. Practice Positive Affirmations

I can’t stress enough the importance of positive affirmations. 

‘Positive affirmation’ is the secret mantra behind many rags to riches stories. Whether it’s a prayer you say or a statement you read out loud, affirmations works. Whatever you want just say it loud, write it down and think about it all the time!

Legends say positive thinking attracts fortune and negative thinking brings misfortune. And it’s true whatever is in your mind, manifests in your life. So, make sure to design your affirmations carefully. 

Try saying your affirmations while looking into your eyes in the mirror.

Also Read: 10 powerful health benefits of prayers

2. Unravel the magic of mindfulness

Mindfulness is the simple practice of being present in your present. Do not linger in the past or wander in the future, stay put in the present. Let life take its course while you enjoy the road.

Mindfulness can be obtained through meditation. It teaches you to see your thoughts as objects floating around. You have the power to pick the ones you like and scroll through those that make you twitch. 

Mindfulness empowers your thinking to move over your emotions!

Also Read: Mindful eating by Osho

3. Design your own perfect morning routine

They say morning shows the say and they are not wrong!

Starting your day on a positive note. Wake up a bit early if you are a late runner. Practice your self-care morning routine in peace. Brushing, Oil pulling, Face Wash, Pooping. 

Take some time to meditate and exercise. Avoid checking your social media, newspaper or television. Rather say your affirmations aloud or read a few pages of a motivating book.

Be grateful for the day and start it with all positivity!

Also Read: Anushka Sharma’s healthy morning routine

4. Learn to cope with criticism

Most people react to criticism with anger or frustration. They don’t know any other way to handle criticism. The power to cope with rejection and criticism is very important for your mental peace. 

You don’t need to defend every criticism that comes your way. Some you have to let pass and some you have to act on. So, whenever you find yourself at the receiving end of criticism, respond don’t react!

Also Read: Self-help strategies to help cope with social anxiety

5. Listen what your critique has to say. 

If the criticism is valid, constructive and respectful then take the words and save them in your mind. Take your own sweet time to process it. You can give a simple response like ‘I will think about it’ or ‘I will work on it’.

If the criticism is invalid then there is no point discussing it. You just have to let it pass without disturbing the equilibrium of your thoughts. Slow breathing exercise, backward counting or distracting your mind can help get through.

Don’t let others decide the state of your mind. 

Also Read: How to cope with social anxiety?

6. Let your thoughts pour down the pen

Researchers are approving that writing down your feelings is a therapeutic practice. It helps in processing your emotions better. Seeing your thoughts turn into words helps you in differentiating what’s rational and what is not.

Let out your negativity on a piece of paper. Tear it, crush it, burn it or scribble over it. This is a symbolic way of destroying your negative thoughts. This might sound crazy but it actually keeps you from being crazy.

Studies reveal writing therapy aids in treating PTSD, Anxiety and Depression. 

Also Read: Proven health benefits of gratitude writing

7. The ‘Just because’ part

When negative thoughts flood through the gates of your mind, you need to give a pep talk. Negative thoughts often lead to overthinking. You weave situations that probably would never happen. 

So, stop that spiral of thoughts ‘just because’. 

‘Just because, I had a fight does not mean my marriage is falling apart!’ or ‘Just because, I did not get the job does not mean I am no good.’ Say ‘Just because I did not score well does not mean I am a bad student.’

‘Just because’ it’s a powerful phrase.

8. Heard of the displacement Theory?

Stopping your mind from thinking is not an easy task. 

Your mind keeps spiralling through the same route of negative thoughts. So, try engaging your mind into thinking something else. You cannot think about two things at the same time. 

So, pick something that brings hope and smile and delve into that world. A year from now none of the things you are stressing about would matter. Try to see the bigger picture of life. 

It will help you flip those negative thoughts!

9. Keep your expectations in check

Expectations do not hurt, it’s only the unrealistic ones that hurt.

Whether you expect it from someone else or yourself, unmet expectations build negative emotions. So, before you build your expectations think twice if that’s even attainable. 

Failed expectations are a trigger for negative thoughts!

Always speak concisely about your expectations. People don’t have mind-reading capabilities. So, if you are expecting something from someone then tell them what you are expecting. 

Steep your expectations in the potion of reality. 

Also Read: How to stop over-thinking and improve health?

10. Greet the day with Gratitude

Gratitude is the most underrated mind tool!

It is one of the most powerful emotions essential for contentment. Having gratitude engraved in your thoughts makes every misery look less miserable. It’s an attitude that turns every negative event into a positive experience. 

The best part is there is always something to be grateful for. The very fact that you are living the day is worth being grateful for. Be grateful for all the small and big things that life has blessed you with!

Also Read: Are you neglecting your emotional immunity?

11. Move your body to shake your mind

Negative thoughts get a better hold of your mind when you are physically immobile.

So, whenever the negative thoughts come rushing to your brain, don’t sit and slouch on the couch. Take a small walk through the woods or sweat it all out in the gym. It will help you shake the negative feels of your mind. 

However, channelling your negative thoughts through aggressive methods is not as helpful as people perceive it to be. Shouting out loud or punching the punch box do not help release the negative thoughts!

Also Read: Changing your walk can change your life

12. Keep distance from the negative breed

There are people who thrive on negativity.

You can’t do much about it. They will always have something to say which can make even the greatest day gloomy. You already know who I am talking about. We all come across this breed. 

It’s human nature to pick up rumination-like behaviour.

So, if you stick around these negative kinds; you will soon find yourself bickering. And that’s not only harmful to your mental health but also your physical health. So, keep a safe distance for your own mental sanity. 

Also Read: How to overcome your jealousy?

13. Take some tea and company

There is nothing that a good cup of tea and good company can’t do!

The tea makes you feel good by triggering your happy hormones and good company is always a good idea. So, whether it’s a book or your best friend, make sure to pick the right ones.

Also, researchers say that holding a hot cup of tea can help. Studies show substituting physical warmth for emotional warmth can be a quick fix. This makes you feel less lonely and more positive about a situation!

Also read: Simple home remedies for your anger issues

The best tips to overcome negative thoughts – Don’t be a perfectionist!

Trying to be a perfectionist is the worst enemy of your happiness.

Life does not have to be perfect; it just has to be lived to the fullest. But trying to be the perfectionist ruins it all. You focus so much of your energy on the small things, nagging and bickering unleash a pool of negativity.

So, if you are trying to be the perfectionist then that’s where you begin. Let the house be a little messy. It’s fine, live your life and everything else will fall just in place!

You Can Conquer your negative thoughts!

It’s a powerful thing to have control over your mind, rather than letting your mind control you. Our ancient sages were a master of this art and they have passed on this skill down to us. 

Meditation, mindfulness, yoga, gratitude and solitude are some of the most powerful tools to gain control over your mind. Today, there is a whole industry preaching the same things our ancestors taught. 

 Try these simple techniques to mind control, which have helped many to live a better life.

I am sure these will help you too!