Being intentional about your thoughts can be a weird concept. It’s hard to think about how you can control your thoughts when they just naturally pop into your head. Well, practicing positive self-talk can actually shift the structure of your natural thoughts.
Do you find yourself constantly identifying the negatives in situations, worrying about all the possible bad outcomes of interactions, and/or blaming yourself when things take a turn for the worst or don’t turn out as expected? If you answered, “yes,” to any of those questions, you have a habit of negative thinking. When your thoughts have a natural negative structure, it takes a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, and can even cause depressive episodes. Adjusting the structure of your thoughts optimistically to promote your wellbeing is difficult and does not happen overnight, but it is possible.
The first step is to identify your negative thoughts as they happen in real-time, and to check on yourself periodically throughout the day to assess the structure of your thoughts. After doing this, you can put positive self-talk into practice!
Here are examples of how to change negative self-talk into positive thinking:
Negative Self-Talk to Positive Thinking
“I’ve never done it before.” to “It’s an opportunity to learn something new.”
“It’s too complicated.” to “I’ll tackle it from a different angle”
“No one bothers to communicate with me.” to “I’ll see if I can make myself more available.”
“I’m not going to get any better at this” to “I’ll give it another try.”
“I always mess things up” to “Everyone makes mistakes. I can learn from it and move on.”
“I’m not good enough to succeed” to “I have strengths and with effort, I can achieve my goals.”
“I can’t handle this.” to “This is challenging, but I can get through it one step at a time.”
“Things will never get better.” to “Challenges are temporary, and I can create positive change.”
If you experience persistent negative thoughts that alter your lifestyle and make your daily routine challenging to complete, seeking professional help would benefit your wellbeing! The professional therapists of Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc. provide a variety of services, including other practices that can help you practice positive self-talk. Please call 708-633-8000 to schedule either an in-person or telehealth appointment with one of our highly qualified therapists! We are located at 6819 – 167th St. in Tinley Park, Illinois 60477. Help us help you!
Myleigh, undergrad intern, 2025
Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc.
CounselingMatters.live 
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