Negative thinking produces a negative attitude which can harm us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A single passing thought will rarely lower our spirits or induce stress but if it begins to multiply it can quickly dominate any positives and create what is called a “thought attack”. Thought attacks instantly steal our peace of mind and prevent us from experiencing a sense of security, hope, happiness, and an overall state of well-being.

Everyone deserves to prosper in all areas of their life.  It comes down to a choice – are you ready to make it happen or stand back and let it pass you by?  Don’t be a bystander be a willing participant in your life and choose to control your thoughts beginning right now!

Here is the first of three steps to start you on your way.

Step 1.           Recognize the signs and symptoms of negative thinking.

Increase your self-awareness by reviewing the list of statements below.  Decide which statements you agree with.

1. My attitude seems to be more negative than positive.
2. I do not have a clear set of goals in my life.
3. I frequently focus on things I am lacking in life.
4. I am often judgmental with myself, family or friends.
5. I have doubts about my talents and abilities.
6. I often feel alone.
7. Many times I feel unworthy or undeserving.
8. I often feel sorry for myself.
9. I expect things to go wrong because they always do.
10. Life has been unfair to me.
11. I feel like a failure.
12. Other people are the reason for my bad moods and behavior.
13. It is because of someone else that I cannot do more with my life.
14. I often feel overwhelmed as I have too much to do and so little time.
15. It is difficult for me to fall sleep at night because I either worry about what has already happened or what may happen in my life.

How many statements did you agree with?  Half the battle of overcoming negativity is recognizing the enemy, which in this case include the statements listed above.  There is no need to calculate a score for this specific exercise as once you read through it you know whether negativity is dominating your thoughts.

Before we move to Step Two take a day or two to increase your awareness of the various thoughts that pass through your mind.  You may be surprised at how often and how quickly those negative ones appear!  Take note not only of how they affect your mood but how they influence your attitude and behavior.

 “If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” ~Peace Pilgrim Quote

 Watch for my next post when I share Step Two!