Don't Let Negative Thinking Create Negative Outcomes

Do you ever find yourself dreading something because you just know how it's going to turn out? And then, sure enough, you do the thing and it is almost as bad as you think it will be, or worse.

It's completely natural to plan emotionally for something. When we do, we end up creating an expectation of how things will turn out. For example, we might hear ourselves thinking, “Ugh, I have to go to work and it’s going to be so busy and I’ll never get anything done.”

When we start this way, we create a kind of template our subconscious mind begins to follow. From that point on, the subconscious is looking out for things that match the expectation we've created, and the whole day can tilt in that direction.

Our minds are goal oriented. We will tend to move toward whatever we are focused on, and often end up finding exactly what we expected to happen.

When we notice ourselves predicting the worst, that can be an opportunity to redirect our thinking. In that moment we can expand our thinking and offer ourselves a different way to look at what's coming up. We're not denying or sugar-coating anything, just choosing better which things to focus on.

For example, you may be tired and telling yourself that today is going to be long and difficult and awful. That is one potential outcome, and if you lean into that expectation, you are likely to have that experience.

A more positive alternative is to notice what is already working. Maybe the sun is out. Maybe the coffee tastes especially good. Maybe there is someone we’re looking forward to seeing. And you may simply realize that you don't have the ability to see into the future. (Just because a situation went a certain way in the past, doesn't mean it will go that way again!)

When we catch ourselves leaning into the negative, we can pause just long enough to look for even one or two things that feel good or positive. That small shift in focus is often enough to redirect the momentum of the entire day.

What Went Well? Why?

Another powerful reframing is to ask yourself what went well in a situation, and why it went well. This will help you to recognize the positive impacts of an experience, boosting your confidence and self-esteem. From here it's easier to keep things in perspective.

We can even ask this before something happens. “What is going to go well, and why?” The moment we explore this, we begin shaping the experience in a new direction.

I've created a worksheet to help you sort through those negative thinking patterns and reframe them in more positive ways. Get your free worksheet here: https://zfrmz.com/AicRLltKb3wUJk1VApNk

How Hypnosis Helps

Reframing is a powerful hypnotic tool for creating changes in how we experience life. When we practice these small shifts in focus during a session, our subconscious mind learns to follow those new pathways automatically. Those practiced patterns that once pulled us toward dread give way to more positive and empowering results.

We already have the ability to shape the way we move through a day. If you had been creating negative expectations, these hypnotic strategies help you create a more positive outcome with more ease. And as you use these reframes, you'll find yourself noticing changes appearing in places you didn’t expect.