Addicted to Negative Thinking?

Is being “addicted” to negative thinking possible?

Absolutely!

Just look around, and listen to what people actually say to you and to each other. When your friends visit or call, do you just sit and listen while they “download” all the anxiety, fear and anger they’ve experienced recently?

And do you just act as a receptacle, a trash can person? Nodding, and perhaps saying, “Oh, that’s so awful!” But then when you hang up, do you feel as if someone’s just “pulled the plug” on your energy?

If so, Welcome to Energy Vampire Central! You’ve just been drained of your “life force!”

Don’t get upset, yet! There’s a way out! It’s so easy to get addicted to negativity because of your own “brain wiring.” So don’t blame your friends or blame yourself.

We all have a predisposition to focus on the negative, because it’s a survival mechanism of the brain. And your fabulous brain just wants to make sure that your eyeballs, your ears and your other senses of survival have noticed that a potential “problem” exists. (Read “Mind Wide Open,” by Stephen Johnson if you want the research behind this.) But once you actually become “aware” of your thoughts, and your situation, and know that you are safe… you can learn how to calm yourself down, and then you can be free all the negativity that simply steals your joy, and robs you of life-energy.

So now what can you do?

Focus on everything you can that makes you happy, and if something or someone doesn’t bring Joy into your life, simply ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” Begin to take responsibility for your own life. Stop blaming things, situations and especially other people. You get to choose your own thoughts, yes? So just take control now!

Happiness is not a destination – it’s a choice. Make it yours!