How to Overcome Negative Thoughts (and become the HAPPIEST person you know!)

GOOOOOD TUESDAY AFTERNOON!

Today I want to chat with you about something that has been a game-changer for me: the importance of positive self talk.

I don't know about you, but I used to be a negative nancy.

And probably not in the way you're thinking - I was a negative nancy to myself. Meaning I wasn't the "OMG I hate everything and everyone, I'm going to cut my bangs and be emo and listen to goth music." (no judgment if that's you hehe)

Rather, I was more of a worry-about-everything, always-need-to-be-perfect, super-hard-on-myself kind of negative nancy.

What's funny is that I didn't even realize this was being negative.

I just thought "I'm a perfectionist hehe. Look at me go! Here I am again, trying to be perfect!"

Which appears like I'm winning, positive and super happy all the time to everyone else around me, but inside I was dying a slow death of judgment, criticism and lack.

"If you could just lose more weight...." "Try harder!!!" "Why are you wasting your time as a fitness coach when there are 90239 prettier/more fit girls than you?"

Oh and the worst was if I had my day planned out and ONE small thing went awry.... then it was go-into-overboard stress time. I'd spend the rest of the day being anxious, feeling unworthy, and feeling like I was trying so hard but spinning my wheels in circles.

Now here's the thing: I still have bad mental days now.

Days where I look in the mirror and think "eh, could be better." Or "Yeah, maybe you should get a little more done and spend like 3 less hours browsing social media, maybe?"

But there are two things that have changed: my ability to snap out of it, and my perspective.

Here's what I mean, and how you can change the habits of the negative self talk in your life:

1. Self awareness

The first step is realizing that you are a negative person. Trust me, we all are at certain points - so there is no judgment here! But if you find yourself feeling like poo when things don't go your way, or you look in the mirror/step on the scale and it ruins the rest of the day for you.... STOP. Self awareness is key here, because until you become self aware enough to recognize the things you tell yourself over and over and over again, you can't change.

2. Replace the negative with a positive

So once you've realized you said something negative about yourself, your circumstances, or someone else - great! You're making progress (so many of us don't even realize we do this, so you're already a step ahead of the game). Now you can't just "get rid of" thoughts... you have to replace them with something else. As much as I wish sometimes I could turn off all my thoughts, probably not likely. Instead, replace the negative thought with a positive. Here are some examples:

- Negative: *steps on scale* "WHATTT? I've worked so hard and haven't lost/gained weight!! Ugh this is so frustrating. I am worthless."
- Positive: "My value and worth is not based on numbers. I am more than my weight on the scale."

- Negative: "Wtf omg so much traffic this is so annoying ahhh kill me someone take me out of my miserrryyyy." *honks and flips 3 people off*
- Positive: "Welp, stressing about it isn't going to make the traffic move any faster. Let me turn on a podcast I enjoy or dance in my car to some of my fav music and enjoy this hour commute instead of being miserable for an hour."

3. Be patient

It's going to take time and effort to change the way you think.

You've probably been stuck in the same thought patterns for 20, 30, maybe even 40+ years... so you can't expect them to change overnight.

But by being mindful, self aware, and making an effort to change - soon you'll realize you're much happier, things don't really bug you anymore, and life is fun again.

Life is good & life is so, so short. Let's enjoy it!

:)

xoxo

Julie

Right now, my heart is set on helping women who want freedom from food obsession, tracking obsessively, jumping from diet to diet, only eating clean foods, etc. If you want to escape the "diet" mentality for good and see great results almost effortlessly, email me