3 ways to stop ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) From Sabotaging Your Health Goals.
Do you have a “committee in your head” giving you all sorts of unsolicited unhelpful advice when it comes to reaching your health goals?
Most of us at one time or another have been hindered by these committee members:
Inner Critic – “You will never lose the weight, you have failed every time. You don’t have what it takes”.
Debbie Downer – “It always rains when you try to go for a walk. lets just forget it. You hate walking in the rain anyway”.
The Judge – “You are guilty of over-eating today and as your punishment, you will only eat 3 pieces of lettuce tomorrow”.
The Victim – “I was born with terrible anxiety and depression. There is nothing I can do about it but suffer”.
These committee members are ….just thoughts in our head!
We have thousands and thousands of negative automatic thoughts per day, most of them come out of nowhere, and are not helpful. Psychologists call them ANTS. Automatic negative thoughts.
These thoughts are often subconscious, irrational and meaningless. Most of the time the negative thoughts may not bother us too much.
But when we are trying to do something challenging, like changing a behavior, the committee will likely come in to session!
Below are three steps to addressing the negative thoughts from the “committee in your head”:
Become aware of your thoughts. Pay attention to the committee members. Call them out by name.
Tell them to SIT DOWN AND BE QUIET! Or alternatively, you can fire them!
Encourage your quieter more helpful committee members:
The inner coach – “You can do this! What strengths can you use to your goals?”
The wise advisor – “Lets focus on why you want to reach your goal? Why is it important to you? This will give you clarity”.
The problem solver – How can we learn from our mis-steps and create new habits to reach our goals?”
The fierce side kick: “You are succeeding with every step. You are not alone. I have your back no matter what.”
By calling on your helpful committee members, you will gain clarity, motivation and confidence to reach your health goals.
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