I is for Inner Thoughts

Inner thoughts are the thoughts and feelings that we experience within ourselves. They are the private and often unspoken dialogues that we have in our heads. These thoughts can significantly impact our mood, behaviour, and overall well-being.

Inner thoughts can be positive, negative, or neutral. Positive inner thoughts include things like affirmations, gratitude, and encouragement. Negative inner thoughts can consist of self-criticism, worry, and self-doubt. Then, neutral inner thoughts include observations or reflections on our experiences without a positive or negative judgment.

Not all inner thoughts are negative, but a lot of them are, which can be destructive. So, paying attention to our inner thoughts is important because they can affect our emotions and actions. For example, negative inner thoughts can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, while positive inner thoughts can boost our confidence and improve our mood.

So, how can I turn my negative thoughts into positive ones?

To cultivate positive inner thoughts, it can be helpful to practice mindfulness and self-compassion. Mindfulness involves paying attention to our thoughts and emotions without judgment, while self-compassion involves treating ourselves with kindness and understanding like we would a close friend. By practising mindfulness and self-compassion, we can become more aware of our inner thoughts and learn to shift them towards positivity and self-care.

Turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts can be a helpful way to improve your mood and outlook on life. Here are some tips that may help:

Identify your negative thoughts: Take a moment to recognize what negative thoughts are going through your mind. Then, write them down if that helps you to see them more clearly.
Challenge your negative thoughts: Once you’ve identified them, challenge them. Ask yourself if they are really true or if there is another way to look at the situation. For example, if you think, “I’ll never be good enough,” challenge that thought by asking yourself, “Is that really true? What evidence do I have to support that thought?”
Reframe your negative thoughts: Once you’ve challenged your negative thoughts, reframe them in a more positive way. For example, instead of thinking, “I’m not good enough,” reframe it as “I’m capable of improving and growing.”
Stop using guilt trigger words like ‘I should’ or ‘I have to’ as they add unneeded pressure on yourself. For example, instead of saying, ‘I should do some exercise today’, replace this with, ‘I will try to do some exercise today’. Or, rather than ‘I have to go to work’, replace this with ‘I get to go to work’.
Practice gratitude: Focus on what you are thankful for in your life. This can help to shift your focus away from negative thoughts.
Surround yourself with positivity: Spend time with positive people, engage in activities that bring you joy, and listen to music or podcasts that uplift you.
Reach out to those around you – sharing is caring! Telling someone about your negative thoughts can help you to feel like a weight is lifted. They can help you to work through your issues and give you a different perspective.