Match a negative with a positive
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Recently I wrote a blog on the new trend of 'Positive Psychology,' and as a result I contemplated how I may or may not use these techniques in my naturopathic practice.
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- Match a negative with a positive
Recently I wrote a blog on the new trend of 'Positive Psychology,' and as a result I contemplated how I may or may not use these techniques in my naturopathic practice.
What did I come up with? A sharpening of how important it is to help my patients focus on what they are doing right, rather than so much focus on what they are doing wrong.
I deal a lot with patients wanting to lose weight, and over and over again I see how they are undone by focusing on where they have 'stuffed up.' What happens is, one 'stuff up' becomes licence to begin a cascade of 'stuff ups,' and the negative focus becomes entrenched. All the positive changes and behaviours they have implemented are thrown out the window and completely forgotten.
The solution: try to keep perspective on the whole picture.
If we could catch our negative thoughts early, it may just be enough to keep some of our not-so-lovable habits at bay. Too easily our daily experience becomes polarised into totally negative, or totally positive, leaving us on a roller-coaster ride. Perhaps a more balanced perspective could bring about a more balanced life.
Maybe try this...
Next time you find yourself focusing on the negative, try to balance it out by matching one positive thought for one negative one. You'll be surprised by how many positives exist, no matter how negative the situation.
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