If you’re really honest with yourself, you’ll probably notice the same thought patterns in your head.
And it might fascinate you to know that average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. Of that number, 80% are negative. And 95% of those thoughts are exactly the same repetitive thoughts as the day before.
Essentially, the things that are running through your head are the same things that were running through your head yesterday. The majority of the conversations you’ve been having with yourself are the conversations you’ve been having for days, week or even years!
Do you find it hard to let stuff go?
You’re not alone.
Our brains are hard-wired to have a negative bias and not only that, we are all vulnerable to downward spirals of repeated thoughts.
If you stop to think about it (really honestly!) do you find yourself obsessing over the same things and ultimately repeating the same behaviours?
When I returned from my Pacific row, I spent a long time thinking about how I could have done something different or better to enable a more positive team dynamic. I still do from time to time. Even if you know you’ve done everything you can in a given situation, there are some things that will always play on your insecurities.
These are 5 tips I try to use any time those thoughts creep in…
1. Catch yourself. Make a note (diary/journal) so you get a sense of how often you are revisiting the same thought.
2. Understand your triggers – do some issues/mistakes send you into more of a negative spiral than others? Why?
3. Focus on solving the problem rather than just fixating on it. Make a plan of action!
4. Find a distraction to break the cycle – get fresh air, read a book, talk to someone.
5. Learn to forgive your mistakes, or those of others.
