Many of us grew up hearing, "If you laugh too hard today, you will cry tomorrow." Swarnamugi Raghupathy, a content creator, recently posted about how this thought made her afraid of being joyful. She recalls, as a teenager and through her twenties, being guilty after laughter. Her thoughts used to be, "Let's stop laughing, or something will go wrong." This indicates how the mind is conditioned to be negative. But the plus side is we can break this habit.

Breaking Free from Negative Thought Patterns: Simple Ways to Reclaim Joy

1. Accept Negative Thoughts

First, accept that negative thoughts are from old habits. These are simply mind habits. It does not necessarily mean they are facts. Merely accepting them without judgment allows you to take command.

2. Change the Channel in Your Mind

When you catch a negative thought, attempt to change your focus. "Change the channel," Sadhguru advises. Your mind is like a television with a variety of channels. There are sad ones, happy or peaceful ones. If one channel introduces fear or sadness, change to a better one. You can think of something pleasant or amusing.

3. Practice Gratitude to Quiet Your Mind

Reminding yourself of the good things in your life makes you feel better. Gratitude calms. Even a gentle thought such as, "I'm grateful for my family" can soothe your mind immediately.

4. Do Something Simple to Reset

There are times when simple things work the best. Take a short drive, walk on the beach, or simply sleep well. These little things bring clarity and calm to you.

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A post shared by Swarnamugi Raghupathy (@swarnamugi.r)

Next Time, Try This

The next time your mind gets caught in negative thoughts, try these steps. Your decisions will become easier, and you'll feel much better.