Imagine this... you come home after a jam-packed day and you think to yourself, "I'm too tired to cook tonight. I'm just going to order out." So you plop yourself on the couch to unwind and dial up your favorite pizza place. And after savoring several slices you suddenly think, "I did it again. I'm never going to get healthy." Sound familiar? As Americans, we're so good at beating ourselves up even when we're trying our hardest. We're also great at forgetting to recognize what we're doing well, even if it is small. But why is this such a big deal? Because negative thinking can sabotage your success when it comes to healthier living. And it can be so hard to shake sometimes, especially if we're feeling spread thin. Negative thoughts zap our hope of being able to achieve our goals and leave us feeling discouraged and defeated. What's more, often times we're not even aware of our negative self-talk and their effect on our own behaviors. Negative thoughts can become habitual and the only way to stop them is to come back at them with a positive thought. Sounds simple enough, yeah? Let's try! Earlier, I was really down on myself for not cooking dinner after a hard day. In that moment, I could've combatted my negative thought with a deep breath and come back with a positive thought such as, "I've learned that I'm often tired after work. I will try to cook at a different time next time." That feels much better! Here are some other motivating mantras that can help you combat negative thoughts... Remember, progress, not perfection, is the key to long-lasting healthy behaviors. And just like muscles get stronger when we work them, so can our ability to stop negative thinking form spiraling out of control when we come back at them with more positive thinking.
What's your favorite motivating mantra(s)? Tell us in the comments below! lindsey
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