I have been learning about a useful technique to help you sift through all those negative thoughts about yourself. When a negative thought comes into your head...question it.

For example...my negative thought is: YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN'T DO THIS

So, I ask 4 questions:

1) IS IT TRUE? Is it true that I absolutely can't do this? Of course not...this isn't true...

2) CAN YOU SAY WITHOUT A DOUBT IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE? Again...no.

3) HOW DOES THIS THOUGHT MAKE YOU FEEL? Horrible! It weighs me down, tightening my throat and chest. I physically can see a change in my posture. It depresses my soul.

4) WHAT WOULD YOUR LIFE BE LIKE BY REMOVING THIS THOUGHT AS IT IS UNTRUE? I would be confident in my self...confident in my abilities. I would walk taller...move through life stronger. I would not have to concentrate on staying motivated...I would just BE the change every day.

5) As the thought is a lie...turn this around and say this to yourself every day...multiple times a day. I ABSOLUTELY CAN DO THIS... I ABSOLUTELY CAN DO THIS...

Try this...find something you keep telling yourself over and over again like a bad record. Do this exercise...and remove the thought because IT IS NOT TRUE...IT'S A LIE.


Love you.

I'm going to print these questions and keep them with me....good ones to keep those bad thoughts at bay!
Thank you for sharing them.

Great Post! I tell myself everyday.....I AM DOING THIS!!. Quitting is not an option. Weekly, I am watching my closet thin out. Buckets being emptied. As I drop in size, I fold up the clothes that no longer fit and I donate them to Goodwill. I am never going back. My closet used to be a very, very dark place. If I was in there and my hubby came in, I swear, he turned around and walked out. The scene that would inevitably take place, was not a pretty one.. Listening to your wife swear worse then a drunken sailor, not attractive. We can do this and we will do this!!! Don't ever give up!! Going backwards just isn't acceptable anymore.

Great post Floorance!

A great book, by David Burns, M.D. helps folks isolate thoughts and challenge them. It's geared toward people with depression - but I think it's helpful for anyone wishing to look critically at their thoughts, the resulting feelings and the behaviors - replacing negative thoughts with more balanced, positive thoughts and visualization is what is doing so much for me personally through this challenge.

Oops. The book is called "The Feeling Good Handbook." Sorry!

Cool - Byron Katie stuff. Very useful technique.

Mae - EXACTLY. I heard her talk about this and it was so profound...just turn the feeling around. *HUGS* Have a GREAT weekend!