How to Manage negative thought

It’s well said that we ourselves are the sole creator of ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’ during our lifetime itself. These are
not the imaginary ‘places’ beyond earth where we take re-birth after death. We create and experience such
conditions in our lifetime only. When our sufferings are severe and continuous, we create ‘hell’ and when our
life is full of joy and happiness, we make ‘heaven’ in our life. It all depends on how well or bad we manage our
mind. Mind can be our best master or the worst servant, we can ever imagine, depending on the control we
exercise over it. Outer reality is nothing but the reflection of our own inner world. If we are happy and
contended then the outer world is full of joy and happiness. On the contrary, if mind is depressed, sad or
distressed then the world around us becomes unfriendly and hostile. It’s just of matter of how we perceive the
world in our mind.
Life is like a roller coaster ride with ups and down. It’s a mix of pain, suffering, boredom, joy and happiness.
The problem is when we suffer or experience some adversity, then the thoughts relating to that particular event
or circumstances make us mentally and psychologically vulnerable. If we don’t know how to deal with the
thoughts that are generated on those moments, we suffer intensively. It’s well said that real test of life comes
under adversity. Not only we suffer mentally because of those circumstances but also make our mind
susceptible to mental health problems, that may arise at later date.
First and the foremost thing, we must understand that we have no control over the world around us. The
people, their behaviour and actions, the political and social scenario in the country, and likewise, there is
nothing we can control. Many of us, unnecessarily and wasteful, try to change others. If it’s so, then we should
not bother about these things in life. We should respond appropriately without preconceived beliefs. However,
we have complete control over our inner world. Our thoughts, actions, behaviour, desires, impulses and urges
are totally under our control. We must bother about our mind, from where all these things arise.
The first way to manage our thoughts is to start seeing things in bigger perspective. By simply changing the
way we see the outer world can make a huge impact on our thought process. We can limit the frequency and
intensity of worrying. The second most powerful way to manage our thoughts is to be more ‘aware and
mindful’. The main problem with our mind is that we are totally identified with the thoughts. When we overthink
or when we suffer from mental health problem, most of the time we are not aware. We fail to realize that it’s the
mind that’s overthinking. The people who suffer from mental illnesses are mostly not aware that they have
some problem in their mind. Self-awareness is not developed to the extent that’s required.
People with higher self-awareness know themselves in depth — their weaknesses and strengths, what
motivates them and how they handle their emotions. They have the ability to perceive, feel, and be conscious
of the thoughts and feelings of themselves and others. Self-awareness provides the capability to look deeply
into the mind. If we are sufficiently aware, we will immediately come to know when we overthink or we are
distressed by negative thoughts. Whenever we are worrying or bombarded by troubling thoughts, and the
moment we become aware of those thoughts, the intensity and frequency start decreasing. Otherwise we will
continue to stay in negative loop of thoughts.
Awareness of those thoughts also leads to release of their negative energy. This is called as ‘relaxed
awareness’. If we stay in the state of relaxed awareness for some time and observe those negative thoughts
without reacting to them, then shortly we see that negative thoughts are losing their energy. It’s a big step
indeed for handling negative thoughts. At least half of the problem is taken care of if we become fully aware
and be conscious of troubling thoughts. It makes a difference. Self-awareness is the foundation stone of
mental health. We need to cultivate it. Though everyone says they have complete self-awareness and are fully
conscious, but it is generally not the case. Those who suffer more, have low level of ‘awareness’.
You may have noticed that people who are generally aware and mindful about what’s happening in their
surrounding environment are happier, because their behavior, emotions and actions are not impulsive. They

are not on ‘autopilot mode’. They will never react instantly if something happens. They will respond to the
situation as per the demand of that particular moment. They are ‘mindful’ and they experience ‘mindful living’. If
we really want to manage our mind and the thoughts, we need to be aware, conscious and mindful. We need
to be ‘present at the moment’ to the extent possible. People who are focused and be present, are happier.
More the mind wanders, the more unhappy they are. It’s a simple formula of life. Those who learn to live
mindfully, exercise more control over their inner world/mind.
Once we start living mindfully, we become increasingly aware of what is going on around us. This is called
meta-awareness, to be aware of awareness. When we are stressed or emotionally disturbed, we are able to
regain equilibrium much faster if we live mindfully. In other words, we recover faster from virtually any
disturbance. When we suffer from anxiety, stress, negative or depressing thoughts, the amygdala, our brain’s
emotional centre, is very active. When we practice meditation, the amygdala, in those moments, resumes
normal function much faster. Therefore, the basic mantra which we all must learn is to live mindfully i.e. be
aware, conscious and be present, as far as possible. Off course, we can’t eliminate mind’s wandering all the
time but certainly we can, with the regular practice of meditation, minimize it and we gradually become more
focused and attentive all the time.
For mindful living, we should try to live in present with higher level of self-awareness. This is the best possible
option to handle all kinds of harmful thoughts. Mindfulness is the key to enhance self-awareness, conscious
behaviour and mindful action in our life. Mindfulness is nothing but be present on the moment and observe
whatever is happening around us in non-judgmental way. We shouldn’t react but respond in conscious way.
It’s not easy to become ‘mindful’ and conscious, it needs regular mental exercises such as meditation and
practice of mindfulness. While eating, walking, working, interacting with others, we should be mindful. This is
nothing but mindfulness. To manage thoughts, this is the best recipe.

Learn to manage negative thoughts

we have complete control over our inner world. Our thoughts, actions, behaviour, desires, impulses and urges
are totally under our control. We must bother about our mind, from where all these things arise.
The first way to manage our thoughts is to start seeing things in bigger perspective. By simply changing the
way we see the outer world can make a huge impact on our thought process. We can limit the frequency and
intensity of worrying. The second most powerful way to manage our thoughts is to be more ‘aware and
mindful’. The main problem with our mind is that we are totally identified with the thoughts. When we overthink
or when we suffer from mental health problem, most of the time we are not aware. We fail to realize that it’s the
mind that’s overthinking. The people who suffer from mental illnesses are mostly not aware that they have
some problem in their mind. Self-awareness is not developed to the extent that’s required.
People with higher self-awareness know themselves in depth — their weaknesses and strengths, what
motivates them and how they handle their emotions. They have the ability to perceive, feel, and be conscious
of the thoughts and feelings of themselves and others. Self-awareness provides the capability to look deeply
into the mind. If we are sufficiently aware, we will immediately come to know when we overthink or we are
distressed by negative thoughts. Whenever we are worrying or bombarded by troubling thoughts, and the
moment we become aware of those thoughts, the intensity and frequency start decreasing. Otherwise we will
continue to stay in negative loop of thoughts.
Awareness of those thoughts also leads to release of their negative energy. This is called as ‘relaxed
awareness’. If we stay in the state of relaxed awareness for some time and observe those negative thoughts
without reacting to them, then shortly we see that negative thoughts are losing their energy. It’s a big step
indeed for handling negative thoughts. At least half of the problem is taken care of if we become fully aware
and be conscious of troubling thoughts. It makes a difference. That’s why self-awareness is the foundation
stone of mental health. We need to cultivate it. Though everyone says they have complete self-awareness and
are fully conscious, but this is generally not the case. Those who suffer more, have low level of ‘awareness’.
You may have noticed that people who are generally aware and mindful about what’s happening in their
surrounding environment are happier, because their behavior, emotions and actions are not impulsive. They
are not on ‘autopilot mode’. They are not impulsive. They will never react instantly if something happens. They
will respond to the situation as per the demand of that particular moment. They are ‘mindful’ and they
experience ‘mindful living’. If we really want to manage our mind and thoughts, we need to be aware,
conscious, and mindful. We need to be ‘present at the moment to the extent possible. People who are focused
and be present, are happier. More the mind’s wandering, more unhappy they are. It’s a simple formula of life.
Those who learn to live mindfully, exercise more control over their inner world/mind.
Once we start living mindfully, we become increasingly aware of what is going on around us. This is called
meta-awareness, to be aware of awareness. When we are stressed or emotionally disturbed, we are able to
regain equilibrium much faster if we live mindfully. In other words, we recover faster from virtually any
disturbance. When we suffer from anxiety, stress, negative or depressing thoughts, the amygdala, our brain’s
emotional centre, is very active. When we practice meditation, the amygdala, in those moments, resumes
normal function much faster. Therefore, the basic mantra which we all must learn is to live mindfully i.e. be
aware, conscious and be present, as far as possible. Of course, we can’t eliminate mind wandering all the
time but certainly, we can, with the regular practice of meditation, minimize it and we gradually become more
focused and attentive all the time.
For mindful living, we should try to live in present with a higher level of self-awareness. This is the best possible
option to handle all kinds of harmful thoughts. Mindfulness is the key to enhance self-awareness, conscious
behavior, and mindful action in our life. Mindfulness is nothing but be present at the moment and observe
whatever is happening around us in a non-judgmental way. We shouldn’t react but respond in a conscious way.
It’s not easy to become ‘mindful’ and conscious, it needs regular mental exercises such as meditation and
practice of mindfulness. While eating, walking, working, interacting with others, we should be mindful. This is
nothing but mindfulness. To manage thoughts, this is the best recipe.

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Mind, Mindfulness, Meditation & Mindful Living