Negativity is ALL around us. When we turn on the news, scroll through our social media accounts, or even just in conversations with friends and family it seems we are consistently being immersed in the negativity which surrounds us in this world. When we are continually immersed in negativity, it begins to impact us mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes even physically. And while we can’t change all of the negativity in the world around us, we can make small changes in our daily life which will decrease negativity and increase feelings of happiness! Sounds nice, right? I mean, who doesn’t want to lead a happier life? So, how do you detox the negativity you ask? Below are my top 4 ways to cleanse yourself of the negativity which is holding you back from achieving inner peace and happiness.

Negative People:

I will admit, there was a time when I was in a more negative space myself. I would complain a lot and get stuck on negatives vs. positives and truth be told, I was not really the best version of myself. I know, it’s hard to believe right? Since all of my posts are about happiness and positivity, but it’s true. So, I did some reflection to really evaluate what was going on and a large reason as to why I was feeling so negative was because I was surrounding myself with negative people and negative energy. Who we spend our time with has such an impact on us. You’ve likely heard the saying, “You become like the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose carefully.” And it’s true. Now, am I saying that it’s someone else’s fault that I was being negative? Absolutely not. Regardless of who was in my inner circle, I was still responsible for my own behavior and actions. What I am saying though is that it is easy to get caught up in other people’s negativity and drama. When you think about your inner circle, do you feel uplifted and inspired? Or, do you feel drained and depleted after you spend time with them? Think about it, if you are with someone who is continually complaining, stressing, and finding the negative in most situations, it makes sense you are going to start to mimic those same behaviors. However, if you are with someone who is happy, upbeat, positive, and looks for the best in most situations, you will then begin to mimic those behaviors instead. This is a very general example and I am not saying everyone who spends  time with someone who is more negative than positive is also more negative themselves. But, it is definitely important to evaluate who is in your inner circle if you are looking to try to lead a more positive life.

Negative Social Media Accounts:

When you are scrolling through your social media accounts, are you following and/or friends with people who share similar beliefs and values as you? Are you finding yourself agreeing with them and liking their posts? Or, are you rolling your eyes every time you see their posts? Are you thinking to yourself, “Great, here we go again…” If it’s the latter, then you are allowing yourself to be influenced by negativity. Again, the degree to which you allow it to influence you will vary, but you are still allowing negativity to impact you on some level by reading the content and becoming frustrated by it. Here is the most beautiful thing about social media: you can unfollow, unfriend, or even block people. It’s literally that simple. Now I know you are probably thinking,“But then they’ll know I unfollowed them.” I can understand this concern, however, I then challenge you to think about whether or not this person is someone you even wish to have in your life. If they are, think about to what degree. Again, even if you do your best to shield yourself from their negativity, it is still impacting you whether you realize it or not. Think about how nice it would be to scroll through your social media, stress free, and actually enjoy the things you are reading. Spoiler alert: It’s pretty nice!

Negative Mindset:

We are ALL guilty of being negative at times. It’s very typical and does not mean anything other than you are a human being. The concern arises when you start to become an overly negative person who complains all of the time, looks for what’s wrong in situations, seems unappreciative, or is considered the “negative Nancy” of the group. If this sounds like you, no judgement. It is likely you just tend to have a more negative mindset which is something you can begin working on, should you choose. A great first step is to reframe your negative thoughts into positives. A fun way to practice this is every time you say something negative, catch yourself by snapping a rubber-band on your wrist. (PS: It doesn’t have to be hard, just a light snap, please.) Then, reframe whatever you just said to a more positive statement. You can even gain support of friends or family by asking them to point out when you are being negative and they can support you in reframing, too. This will do two things: 1. It will allow for you to start realizing when you are actually being negative and 2. It will allow for you to start reframing your negative thoughts into positive. The more you practice this, the easier it becomes and the more likely it will be that your mindset will start to shift too. Being positive does not mean you are ignoring the negative, it just means you are overcoming the negative and choosing not to let it consume you.

Holding Onto Anger:

 

“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”–Buddha.

This is a phrase I find myself repeating often, not only to my clients but to myself as well. Holding onto anger is a pretty concrete way to ensure you are going to be holding onto negativity and let me tell you something, that negativity will eat away at you. It will consume your thoughts and will influence your feelings and behaviors. Word to the wise: LET IT GO. I know, easier said than done, but when you can finally allow yourself to do this, you will feel a sense of relief and freedom. So, do some soul-searching, dig deep, figure out what exactly is triggering you, and start the process of releasing that anger.

Life is short and we are all entitled to peace and happiness. Do not let the negativity of that which is around you destroy your inner peace. Choose happiness. I guarantee that if you implement some of these small steps, you’ll feel as though a weight as been lifted.

I would LOVE to know what spoke to you today and encourage you to comment below and share with me!

If you are interested in learning more about my therapy services, check out my website HERE. Seeking mental health services can be daunting and if you are finding my posts resonate with you, it is likely you are feeling ready to take that next step to work on leading a happier, healthier life! I would LOVE to support you in starting this journey and welcome you to send me an email at counselingservices@smsteeves.com.

ALSO! Check out my FREE “How Do I know If Therapy Is Right For Me” printable to start the process of deciding whether or not taking this next step is right for YOU! Just add your name + email address below and you will receive an email with a link to your FREEBIE!

Be Well,

Sarah