“Thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand.”
~Bob Proctor
Have you ever felt inexplicably sad or anxious, without knowing exactly why? 😟
It’s frustrating when your mood seems off, and you can’t even pinpoint the reason behind it.
It usually starts when a negative thought crosses your mind — maybe it’s a worry, a doubt, a fear.
After a while you forget about the thought.
But the feeling…
It lingers.
Grows.
Becomes worse.
You feel anxious or depressed. 😮💨
And you don’t even know why!
That’s the hidden trap of negative thoughts.
They’re sneaky.
They visit your home, trash the place, and then sneak off in the middle of the night.
They create feelings that stick around long after the original thought is gone.
The solution?
Journaling.📓
When you sit down and think about what it is that’s causing your negative feelings, you can bring logic into the equation and limit its impact on your mental wellbeing.
Here’s how it works:
👉 Catch the thought: Write it down. When you put it on paper, you isolate it, instead of letting it roam free in your mind, where it can cause more chaos.
👉 Analyze: Ask yourself, “Why did I think that?” Are you stressed about work? Did a past failure cause it? By understanding the root cause, you transform a vague sense of unease into a specific problem that you can address.
👉 Let it go: By understanding the thought, you can decide whether it’s something to act upon or something to dismiss. Either way, it loses its hold on you.
Of course, it takes practice.
But our emotional well-being is at stake.
Stop letting forgotten thoughts ruin your day.
Take control.
Write them down.
Understand them.
Defeat them.
You owe it to yourself to live a life where you are truly in control of your emotions. Journaling is a simple and effective way to get there. Grab a pen, find a notebook, and start today.
This Week’s Image
This Week’s Journaling Prompt
Take some time to think through the following journaling prompt.
Reflect on the last time a stray negative thought affected your mood. What was the thought? How did it make you feel? Now, dive deeper: What might’ve triggered it? Was it a recent event, a memory, or something you’re anxious about in the future? Write about the entire experience and the emotions that followed.
This Week’s Challenge
Spend 10 minutes writing down any negative thoughts that come to mind. Next to each thought, jot down one positive counter-thought or action you can take. By the end of the week, review your entries and notice how the simple act of writing has made you more aware and in control of your thoughts.