Are Your Thoughts on Overdrive?

Imagine that you’re driving your car right now and three passengers are tagging along.

• Neggy (negative beliefs)
• Anxi (anxiety)
• Rumi (rumination)

When you left your house, it was just you, until you pulled over to read a text message. Then suddenly Neggy jumps in and all you hear is “I’m not good enough…I don’t deserve this…I’m going to fail.”

Frustration sets in as you turn the corner, nearly missing the pedestrian on the sidewalk. When you come to a stop sign, Anxi opens the door and sits next to Neggy. You are now trembling and shaking, from almost hitting someone, you glance in your rearview mirror and see them giggling.

Cruising along you attempt to practice a breathing exercise to ignore your passengers in the backseat. One deep breath in through your nose…holding a few seconds, then slowly breathing out while puckering your lips. “I got this,” you say as the light in front of you turns red.

As you focus on the red light, hoping for a green, Rumi opens the car door, jumps in the front seat and says “shotgun” and turns to smile at Neggy and Anxi and they all come together and say, “we got this.”

Driving along, you can’t stop thinking about an uneasy situation that recently happened and another set of breathwork is not helping. You glare at Rumi and silently say “PLEASE get out of my car.”

You arrive at your destination, fully exhausted and unmotivated to do anything and then you catch a glimpse of Neggy, Anxy & Rumi high fiving each other.

Time is precious…you’re in control of how you think, it’s not worth letting negative beliefs, anxiety and rumination take over. Take the wheel and steer away from toxic thoughts. It does require effort and when you shift your focus on:

• • Strengthening your self-worth
  • Building healthy relationships
  • Creating a positive environment
  • Trying something new OFTEN
  • Serving others

That bumpy drive will be a road filled with healthier thoughts that serve you. There’s no room for Neggy, Anxy & Rumi to ride along in your life.