How to avoid negative thoughts ?

Stop whatever you are doing right now and just think about those beautiful moments when you actually complimented yourself for performing well at your job or for handling the most difficult situation in the easiest way. What a feeling! Now, think about the moments when you said something negative about/ to yourself or when pessimism took over your life. Which memories are easier to recollect? If (unfortunately) the latter is on your mind then you’re a victim of the rampant negativity surrounding the world. You might even be ruminating the depressive thoughts but that’s how they grow stronger. And lesser do we comprehend that the frequently visited thoughts are like those paths which gradually start looking like the ones best for survival. Though with stern efforts and intentions creating new and positive paths is as easy! Yes, nothing happens instantly and uncontrollably negative self-talk keeps coming back. But with a few tips, you can lower the frequency and to some extent even revamp your mindset. Because it’s about making the best of what is happening in the present moment and this is how to avoid negative thoughts rumbling your mind.

How to avoid negative thoughts – 7 Simple ways

1. Being busy is beautiful

Don’t just simply while away your time doing nothing and focusing on all bad things happening (or of the past) in your life. Rather focus on something that’s more important. Bring together all your energy to productively schedule your time and keep away the negative thoughts. Because when you keep yourself busy you excel for the betterment.

2. Meditation and Pranayama

It is really necessary to carry out at least a five-minute meditation session to silence the wandering mind and detach from the ongoing non-constructive drama. Both pranayama and meditation instantly help you calm your anxious mind. It gives rise to spiritualism, knowledge and wisdom along with tranquillity and a better mind frame.

3. No repression

Negative thoughts are like a boomerang; throw it away with any intensity it just tends to hit back. So instead of suppressing your negative self-talks just gradually replace it with the positive one. Trying to completely tyrannize the same does no good and it sooner or later just triggers badly. Remember, negative thoughts are like ghosts, call them to sit & chat with you and they disappear else they take control! You should scare them away with your positive power.

4. Improving circulation in your body

How do you do that? Simply lie down on the floor and start rolling on your either sides. This is how you feel your bodily circulation improving. It tends to clear out all the clutter accumulating in your mind. And now you also know the reason why people do Shayana Pradakshinam – worshipping by rolling on the floor. Try it once and see the difference for yourself.  It actually transforms your mind.

5. Move!

Everyday consider yourself fortunate enough to have what all you have currently. Practice gratitude. Count on your blessings, get up and get going! Perform yoga or any of your choicest exercises, meditate, do pranayama and let your energy levels improve. Engage in a hobby and/ or interact with different people. Just move from the current situation to something that keeps you busy and keeps you going to not let in any negativity.

6. Eat to relieve

Make use of relieving herbs like ashwagandha, Brahmi, jatamaansi, turmeric and/ or cardamom that relax the turbulent mind. These herbs not only eliminate the depressive thoughts you get time and again but also help to channelize your energy in the right direction. Make fluids, fresh fruits and green veggies an important portion of every meal. Consume more cooling foods and avoid tea or coffee.

7. Ayurvedic treatments

Consult your ayurvedic practitioner to understand the root cause of what’s been troubling you. This way it helps them to accordingly undertake the necessary ayurvedic treatments. Therapies like Shirodhara or abhyanga are performed to calm the pounding mind.

But at the end, all the suggestions or advice are a waste if you do not learn to let things go.  Train your mind to see beauty in everything as your happiness depends upon the quality of your thoughts. Consider negativity as the clouds which come and go but what remains is the pleasant blue sky that is you. Fly beyond the clouds and discover what is untouched. Do not attach with the clouds (or thoughts). Witness (also known as Sakshi Bhava) them and just rise above them to keep you going (the practice is also known as Vihangam Marg). Don’t let the vastness of the sky be disturbed due to a few temporary clouds. Good things take time, over thinking doesn’t resolve any problem and talking about sorrows is the most negative habit which should be replaced by talks of joys, love and dreams. Remember, how to avoid negative thoughts depends on your response to the situations which actually is your power that decides what happens next!