When you turn a negative thought into a false truth, this is known as a negative belief. Sometimes these thoughts are subconscious but, in any case, are still not true. Therefore, negative beliefs can impact your thinking patterns.
Negative Beliefs
Negative beliefs can affect your thinking and your health and emotional wellbeing. Different types of negative beliefs include:
- Core beliefs about yourself
- Core beliefs about people
- Core beliefs about your world
Examples of negative beliefs include statements such as:
- I am useless
- I am a failure
- I am incapable
Cognitive Reframing
Cognitive reframing is readjusting thoughts and applying a different way of looking and framing the idea. It is looking at what is factual and what is simply a feeling. Sometimes you may “feel” useless, but that does not make it so.
Accept that when you feel useless, you need to feel that feeling, do not judge it, and then look for the truth once you accept the feeling. You can then change the narrative by saying, “This situation only makes me feel useless, but I know that I am not useless, and I can find better solutions next time this happens.”
What Tools Does Cognitive Reframing Give Me?
Cognitive reframing has many beneficial tools that can help you, including:
- Understanding that facts are not emotions or opinions; facts are facts. Therefore, challenge your inner voice when it tries to convince you otherwise.
- Examine the cause of your thought, and sit with the feeling that triggered it until you can come up with a solution to change your response to this thought the next time it occurs.
What Can I Do With My New Thinking?
Doing something active with these new ideas and feeling your feelings will bring about positive change. Therefore, you can reframe your negative thoughts into positive actions that can help your recovery. Once you have reframed the thought, take it one step further and put the thought into action. Such action could include partaking in:
- Art
- Music
- Dance
- Writing
- Exercise
Sometimes the hardest work brings you the best results; feeling feelings is work, but it is not the feelings that cause the trouble. Your resistance to feeling the feeling is the real trouble. Once you feel it, you can reframe the thought.
If you are currently under the weight of negative beliefs and it is interfering with your mental and physical wellbeing, then the time to get help is now. At The Guest House, we provide both conventional and holistic resources to help you confront the internal and external challenges of everyday life. Do not let negative beliefs tell you who you are any longer. Begin your journey to wellness today. To learn more about our programs, reach out to us by calling (855) 483-7800.