By Nishelle

Step One: Awareness Is the Key

The moment you notice you’re stuck in negative thinking, you’ve already taken the first step out of it. Negativity thrives in unconscious loops. Shine light on it, and it begins to dissolve. Ask yourself:

• Am I replaying the same thought?
• Is this a real danger or just an echo of fear?

Step Two: Break the Loop with the Body

Negativity isn’t only mental—it anchors into the body.

• Breathe Deeply: A slow, conscious inhale and exhale sends a signal of safety to the nervous system.
• Move: Stretch, walk, or shake out the tension. This resets the body’s stress response.

Step Three: Shift the Focus

Since energy flows where attention goes, redirect your focus.

• Gratitude Practice: Name three small things you’re thankful for in this moment.
• Sensory Anchoring: Look around and notice colors, textures, or sounds. Bring yourself into the present.
• Micro-Victories: Recall a past success, no matter how small, to remind the mind it can create change.

Step Four: Reframe the Narrative

Negativity usually tells a story of loss, failure, or fear. Challenge it:

• Is this thought absolutely true?
• What would this look like if it were an opportunity instead of a problem?
  Reframing doesn’t mean denying reality—it means choosing the lens through which you see it.

Step Five: Replace, Don’t Resist

The mind doesn’t like a vacuum. If you just try to “not think negative,” it will pull you back in. Instead:

• Visualization: Imagine the outcome you want, vividly, like a movie scene.
• Affirmation: State a positive truth with conviction, e.g., “I am capable of handling challenges with clarity.”
• Creative Flow: Write, draw, or play music—channel the energy into creation instead of rumination.

Step Six: Make It a Habit

Negativity mode weakens with practice. Consistently choose awareness, gratitude, and reframing, and the brain rewires. Positivity becomes the default, not the exception.