Turning Negatives Into Positives
At the suggestion of Lightuptheworld, I thought I'd start another 'Turning Negatives into Positives' thread like there is on the old forum. Below is a quote from Antria who started the thread on the previous forum which I think explains the idea of the thread quite well.
"Sometimes it can be helpful to turn our thinking around and begin to challenge the way we look at things. Turning negatives into positives is a way of doing this! Basically, think of something that happened today, this week, this month or at some other time that felt negative and see if you can find a positive in it (or that came out of it)."
I find posting in this thread really helps me to look at things in a different way or see positives that I might not have noticed if I'm in a negative headspace. I'll start the ball rolling:
Negative: My friend didn't turn up to class this morning and I was worried I would be alone because I don't really know anyone else in the class.
Positive: It gave me a chance to sit with new people and get to know them better 🙂
Over to you!
Thanks @Rhelna
I'm trying, I've been hit with these negatives for a little while again, I did kind of expect a bit of backlash from myself due to how well I copped through my final exams, but I'm managing 🙂
I woke tired but feeling okay this morning. I did manage a 40min drive to the next town to get used to their roads for my P's test in a couple weeks which was a massive achievement for me, considering I would have driven in total at least 3 hours already today!
Negative: Missed out of the GR sesh yesterday 😞 dad had cut the net because of the storm and I had only gotten home at 8.30 from driving through it...
Positive: I drove safely through the heavy rain and came home safely. I know he only cut it because of the lightening...
Negative: I got into a fight yesterday with a friend about hair styles and dresses for our Grad on Saturday... It felt like a kick in the face. I feel like everyone aroud me just wants to control me! 😞
Positive: I was firm with my opinion. I told her how I felt and tried to reason with her. I tried my best.
Negative: When another friend came over to help find hairstyle ideas, I found out that they are both going away for her 18th, without any consideration about even asking me... I felt like I'd just been kicked in the face again 😞
Positive: I let it go. I reminded myself that it was their choice to not invite me. I'm good enough without them.
Negative: There have been fights around home again recently. And I kind of feel like it's all aimed straight at me. Like I should have done better, like I should be doing more. Like I should be doing everything I'm not aswell...
Positive: I know they are unjust thoughts. They are not my duties to do. I'm the child! I'm not the parent!
Negative: I am getting stressed and a bit worried that I haven't heard from CSU about my PREP application. The suspense isn't helping me any right now. I just want to know if I got in...
Positive: I'll recieve notice in good time. There are other ways if I don't get in.
Negative: I got really overwhelmed earlier when looking at things for uni. Accomodation, costs, ect. The negative thoughts began to take on a mind of their own. I began to think that it's useless to even attempt it.
Positive: I can ask people for help with it all. My mentor told said if there was anything else she could help with, just to let her know 🙂 I know she won't mind.
Negative: I have really negative thoughts ruminating through my mind right now. And I should talk to someone, though I just feel too scared to. I'm scared that if I let them out, I wont be able to control them...
Positive: I've been writting everything out for about a hour now. I should be okay to try a distraction method now..
Negative: I have so much work and study to do, I feel overwhelmed.
Positive: I'm getting stuff done, it might be slow, but it's happening. I've done it before I can do it again, and it will be worth it!
Pos: if I write down what I need to ask, I'll be fine....
Neg: Will I ever be able to trust my body's hunger signals again??? Will I gain back muscle????
Pos: yes, but it'll take time. Remember: your body knows what it's doing. You WON'T gain weight forever!!!
Negative: Wasn't feeling so great this afternoon
Positive: I faught through it and came out feeling okay the other side 🙂
Negative: Got into a fight with my brother where he proceeded to call me some rather rude, nasty and offenseive names... 😞
Positive: I didn't accept it and told him it was offensive, then got dad to deal with him.
Negative: certain things around home are really starting to get to me and just annoy me a bit..
Positive: I'm dealing with these accordingly and doing my best not to make it a big thing...
Negative: Not feeling so great at the moment. Got some pretty neg thoughts running through my mind and I'm feeling overwhelmed...
Positive: I've been able to identify the feeling, the cause! I'm pretty sure I know tonights trigger. 🙂 KHL counsellor would be happy with that (:
Negative: My good mood was brought down by the fights with my younger brother. I just don't know how to cope around him anymore. I cannot say anything about him without it being really negative, he's not really a bad kid. I can't even be around him long before fights break out. It's really making living at home really hard for me right now 😞 And it hurts, because I never wanted to be this kind of person. It's like a knife in the chest...
Positive: I'm catastrophizing again. Yes certain parts of being at home are hard, but he's not to blame. I am doing the best I can, I just need to keep reminding myself of that
Negative: There is so much going on around me right now, yet so little to focus on. I kinda feel like I'm up the creek without a paddle on a very still day!!! No wind to push me, no paddle to row myself...
Positive: I guess I can sit and wait for the wind to come and give me a push... Meanwhile I'm left with my own thoughts.
Negative: At times I question why I am doing the things I am. I question my ability to fight through. My own sense of self is damaged.
Positive: I'm fighting it. I'm trying to keep my head above water and not be permanently dunked...
Negative: I feel like I'm not making sense. That I'm just digging myself a bigger hole. Like I'm just making myself feel bad by attempting this tonight...
Positive: To me it kinda makes sense. I am trying to figure myself out! I am going to head ovre to Everyday Life to find some positives in today 🙂
Negative: Oh god oh god two exams tomorrow, one on tuesday and two more on thursday... I am so screwed.
Positive: It can't be that bad? I usually pass and today, I even studied a bit! And I have a break before my last exams so that's good. And my last exam's a performance!
Negative: In less than a week one my best friends is leaving. She's been here for a year and I've known her for at least 9 months. I never thought I'd miss someone as much as I do her. I'm such an awkward person and she's my friend, how'd that even work? Someone who I haven't known for the past few years liking me? I just didn't think it possible.
Positive: I can still keep in contact with her! Maybe now I should get facebook or something that will help me keep in contact with her.
Pos: I'll get the blood work done then go to bed. Don't have to be up early tomorrow....
Neg: what a day- I'm so tired and cold......
Pos: I was challenged today and I survived! 🙂 meeting p wasn't so bad and I was able to concentrate= bonus!!! 😄
Neg: feel like I'm in over my head.....
Pos: mum'll explain it to me
Positive: It's been a BIG day for me today!
Negative: I didn't get to see my friend today, was a bit disappointed, I wanted to share my news...
Positive: I will see her soon! She knows my news, and I know she's happy 🙂
Negative: Have to go under general anaesthetic in hospital at some stage in the next few months to get my wisdom teeth out 😞
Positive: It is a good opportunity for me to replace my previous traumatic experiences of operations and being in hospital with an experience that is more positive and safe.
@redhead I've been at uni re-watching a long lecture; same one I watched a year ago, but dropped the unit 😞
I'm okay, I think I'm going to footy training in an hour.
I'm glad to see you found some positives too 🙂
Thanks @Olivia123
Neg: had nightmares. I also wanted to go for a long run, but I was exhausted
Pos: I went for a short run
Neg: I got really triggered in the GR last night and started having unsafe thoughts again.
Pos: I watched some netball whilst hugging big ted; did my sleep routine and went to bed.
I'm wondering if I had nightmares because I was upset around bed time and struggling not cry. At least I did sleep though 🙂
Negative: I was super anxious about class today, and I feel really down on myself because I feel like everybody else knew more than me and is smarter than me. And it was lonely.
Positive: I'm working really hard on challenging my safety behaviours in class, and I managed to do that a bit today. I didn't leave the class even though I was anxious, and I even answered a question correctly.
Negative: My brain is on a really negative, anxious, frightened and depressed setting at the moment. At times it feels overwhelming and intolerable.
Positive: I haven't been self harming, and I am surviving day by day, functioning okay and stuff. I need to have faith that things won't feel like this forever.
@DruidChild Nice self reflection after class the other day. How are you tonight?
Neg: some distressing stuff happened today
Pos: I did a heap of strategies; am now at my family's place sitting on my comfy bed with big ted, and my cat was super happy to see me 😄
Are you staying? @loves netball
Neg: I think my mum is going to jail for like a million different reasons
Pos: I had spag bol for dinner, such a small thing but it was yummy
sorry to hear that about your mum @j95
I agree - spag bol is delicious and I'm glad you got to enjoy some!
Cats are the best @loves netball! Glad you got to see your kitty 🙂
That sounds like a really confronting situation @j95 😞 Yum, I'm jealous of your spag bol though!
Thank you @lokifish and @Bree-RO. I'm actually doing pretty well today, surprisingly. I really really hope that the tide is starting to turn and that I'll be okay eventually 🙂
@j95 I have no idea. I know I'm on my last warning and one more stuff up like the last two days and I'm not allowed on for a very long time. Sorry but I better get out of the tough times section 😞
@DruidChild that's awesome that you were able to stay in class and even answer a question! I know how hard it can be so I hope you gave yourself a pat on the back 🙂
Neg: footy training didn't go so well because my head just hurts so much
Pos: I kept trying as much as I could. I bought ice cream 😄
