[mythorn]

My therapist tells me to replace my negative thoughts with positive. But, truly...in the real world.....how do you tell yourself you are doing great, when you know you obviously are not??

[Orvel]

Originally Posted by mythorn

My therapist tells me to replace my negative thoughts with positive. But, truly...in the real world.....how do you tell yourself you are doing great, when you know you obviously are not??

Well, how do you know you are "not doing great"? I will tell you how... you compare yourself to other people. You need to stop doing that and instead compare yourself with your "past self".

Also, try to cherrish the small things... Do you have a roof over your head? Do you have food on your table? ... basically do your best to find these things.

Accept your situation and work on improving it.

Hope this helps.

[doyoutrustme]

I don't believe that doing that alone would make you happy. It helps to, but you also need to deal with your core issues.

[Little Lulu]

Replacing negative thinking with positive thinking does not work for me either. What does work is recognizing a negative thought when it arises and not resisting it ... gently let it go and come into the present moment because problems don't exist in the present, only in the past which involves thoughts of guilt or regret or the future, which involves fear and anxiety. We can do nothing about about the past or future and the present moment is all we really have anyway.

The work of Eckhart Tolle (wrote 'The Power of Now') has helped me with this. I am getting much better at it but it does take some awareness to see those pesky thoughts when they come.