Controlling Your Thoughts Before They Control You

Controlling Your Thoughts Before They Control You

Just like most of you, this time of isolation has been hard on me and my girls for multiple reasons. I too am worried about the future. I am not going to deny the stress that this Coronavirus pandemic has put on our entire existence. Worries about the economy, my own personal finances, my daughters' educations, gas prices and the stock market plummeting, the mental health of my friends and family, the loss of jobs; the list can sometimes feel endless. I feel you my friends. Times are tough right now. Not knowing when this is going to end, or when we can make plans for the future is really messing with us all. However, how we handle this situation is completely up to us and can also lead to a much better future than we could ever imagine if we can just get control over our own minds. If we don't control our thoughts soon they can over take and control us.

Now, this is much easier said than done for sure, but it is still something we can control. So, try to be proactive about your thoughts. What you put into your mind has a lot of impact on your mental health and well being. When possible, choose positive over negative. 

Inevitably, negative thoughts and worries will surface. When this does happen, acknowledge this and ask yourself, "Is this thought productive? What can I do about this right now?" If the thought is not productive and/or if it is something you cannot control, change your thought to something else, something positive. You can also find something positive and productive to do as a distraction, take a walk, turn on a positive podcast, do anything that makes you happy. Sit down right now and make a list of things you can do that brings positive to your life.  Here is mine. Use it as a a starting point in making your own....

1.  Listening to music

2.  Exercising (running, biking, weight lifting, CrossFit, hiking) 

3.  Motivational podcasts

4.  Reading

5.  Playing games with my kids

6.  Talking on the phone or video chats with friends and family

7.  Writing

8.  Making jewelry

9.  Watching a good show or movie 

10. Coloring

11. Shooting my bow

12. Home improvement

When your negative thought is something you can control, write it down. Brainstorm a list of actions you can take to work on making progress on exterminating this negative. For example, if you lost your job, make a list of things you can do to recover that income. The top of that list is to file for unemployment. If you miss your family or had to cancel a trip, call them or video chat. 

There are almost always things you can do to turn a positive into a negative, sometimes it takes some creative thinking or research. The most important thing is to not dwell on these negative thoughts or feelings. 

Seek out others who are in the same situation as you. Ask for advice on how they might be handling it. You aren't alone. The whole world is going through this together even though at times this isolation can make you feel like you are completely alone. 

Last, take a break from social media. Turn off the news. Right now, there is information overload from all directions. This can really influence our thoughts and feelings. Do your best to filter what is going into your mind before it has a chance to even get there.

This takes practice my friends. I still have moments when I panic. feel anxious, cry.... it's ok. Sometimes, we need to do that in order to express our feelings, so we can move past them. If you feel like this, do it.

My thoughts are with you all.  May we all come out of this stronger, wiser, and mentally strong.

Fondly,
Ann