avatarRita Duponty

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of not allowing negative thoughts to take root in one's mind, advocating for strategies to dismiss them and maintain a positive mental state.

Abstract

The article "Don’t Let Bad Thoughts Make a Nest in Your Head" discusses the natural occurrence of negative thinking and the importance of preventing these thoughts from lingering. It suggests that while everyone experiences bad thoughts, it's crucial to recognize and manage them rather than letting them dominate one's mental space. The author recommends various methods to counteract negative thinking, such as physical activity, social interaction, prayer, focusing on positive aspects of people or situations, singing uplifting songs, and engaging in acts of kindness. The piece underscores the idea that personal growth and happiness come from surrounding oneself with positive influences and concentrating on solutions rather than problems, thus making the process of overcoming negative thoughts more manageable.

Opinions

  • The author believes that negative thoughts are transient and do not define a person's character.
  • It is posited that a healthy mental diet, including positive reading, viewing, and conversations, contributes to a positive thinking pattern.
  • The article expresses that acknowledging negative thoughts without dwelling on them is key to preventing them from nesting in the mind.
  • Exercise is highlighted as an effective method for changing one's mental state and dispelling negative thoughts.
  • The author suggests that prayer can be a powerful tool for communication and seeking help from a higher power.
  • Looking at the positive traits of individuals can help counteract negative thoughts about people.
  • Singing songs with positive lyrics and practicing giving without expecting anything in return are recommended as ways to improve one's mental state.
  • The author asserts that life is a continuous growth process and that focusing on solutions rather than problems can lead to joy and happiness.

Don’t Let Bad Thoughts Make a Nest in Your Head

Let them fly over your head

Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash

Uncontrolled negative thinking or bad thoughts do not need to make a nest in your head. Everyone has at one time or another had a bad thought run through their mind. Stop right there. A thought can fly over your head, but it doesn’t need to land and make a nest. I’d like to think this was an original thought. However, I heard this at a convention years ago. It has stuck with me ever since.

Most people will agree that you are what you feed your mind. A healthy diet of upbuilding reading or viewing along with uplifting conversation usually will keep a person on a positive-thinking tract and away from bad thoughts.

Nevertheless, from time to time in our imperfection, those ugly gremlins or bad thoughts and extreme negative thinking pop up in the mind. Some people may think that they are a bad person for having such a thought. However, if they locked everybody up that had a bad thought we would all be in jail.

The key is not to dwell on the thought; not to act upon such thinking. How can you switch channels? There are many ways. Here are a few you might want to try:

  • Change your physical positioning. If you are sitting, get up and walk. If you are walking, try running. Exercise works wonder.
  • Call a friend to get your mind away from current thoughts.
  • Pray. For me this is the most important communication with the Creator, and ask for help.
  • Recognize the negative thought. If the thought is about a person, try and look at the positive things of the person.
  • Sing upbuilding songs with cheerful lyrics.
  • Practice giving and not receiving. Do something nice for someone.

Life is a growth process no matter how old you are. Learning and developing skills to enhance your life and those you touch can reward you with joy and happiness. This is challenging. The more you surround yourself with good association and focus on solutions and not problems, the easier the challenge will become.

Yes, you will still have a bad thought now and then. Hopefully, fewer and less often not allowing them to make a nest in your head. Nests are for the birds!

Thank you for reading.

This is in response to the prompt inspired by Sujona Chatterjee, “we are not our thoughts.”

Know Thyself Heal Thyself
Prompt Response
Self-awareness
Self Improvement
Life
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