How to Disarm Negative Thoughts

Negative thoughts create havoc within us, as they produce painful emotions and can even lead to irrational, destructive behaviour. What can we do about these intruders? We have been given many different strategies in our struggle against them.  We have been told to monitor them, and stop them as soon as they pop up. We have been told that any negative thought entering the mind should be treated like a hostile enemy, that we should fight it and disarm it immediately. But this is not always possible. Our thoughts come so fast that it is impossible to monitor them effectively. And our mind is not a fortress surrounded by thick walls. Instead, it is an open space. The more we try to defend it, the more "enemies" seem to seep in... 

A better way to deal with negative thoughts is to avoid treating them like foes. You cannot disarm them by fighting them, as they will just come back even more numerous and stronger. "What you resist will persist". A more gentle and effective approach is to make peace with your negative thoughts. This will take the fear away, the apprehension that wells up as soon as you spot them or even before they arrive. If you're not afraid of something, it ceases to have power over you. As you let go of your fear, your negative thoughts will recede and eventually, they will dwindle away.

It's good to know that we have the ability to create through our thoughts, but it can also be a reason to worry. All this negative stuff I think about, am I going to make it happen? Thoughts with a lot of emotion have more impact, and more creative power than thoughts with little emotion.  But instead of getting panicky, look at the thought with detachment, and don't allow it to stir up feelings within you. It might seem difficult to begin with, but you can do it. Every time the thought comes up, acknowledge it but don't give in to it, don't give it importance, don't invest in it. Don't attempt to suppress it, but don't allow it to grow either. 

Thinking about something negative will not make it come true, especially if you don't want it and you don't believe in it. What you fear the most will never happen. But if you have a negative thought with a lot of emotion, and you allow it to take over your mind, you may also invite trouble into your existence. To overcome this hurdle, look at your thought for what it is: just a thought, nothing more. As for your reaction, your emotion, it is nothing more than a "thought in motion". Mentally stick a label on both thought and emotion and file them away. If the thought comes back, don't worry; it can't harm you any more.

Negative thoughts are just a warning signal, an indication that you need to change something within yourself. Acknowledge them for what they are, without fretting over them. You need to make peace with them to be able to release them, or you'll create a war within yourself. Being at peace with yourself and with others is your ultimate purpose. As soon as you look for enemies, you turn your back on peace and you prepare yourself for battle. But even your foes are your friends as they are your best teachers. Your negative thoughts can teach you a lot about yourself. And it is only by accepting them and appreciating them that you can finally disarm them.

With all my love,

Bella

Painting: "Light Conquers Darkness" by Nicholas Roerich, 1933 (Wikipaintings)