If you’ve been having some of your old thoughts resurface, I want you to know that you are not alone! So many of us have times when we find ourselves thinking about things we used to believe were true but now know are not. We’re only human. This is why it’s so important to develop and protect your emotional self-care habits.

 

Thought Distortions that Eat into our Mental Self-Care

1. All-or-none thinking
2. When old thoughts resurface
3. Jumping to conclusions

 

Your Brain Might be Lying to You

I fell into an old thought pattern the other day. I received some information from my primary care doctor that included what the BMI chart claims my weight should be: a full 15 kilos less than what I currently weigh.

I found myself spiraling, letting the old thoughts and beliefs I used to hold about my weight take precedence over what I currently know to be true. When these old thoughts resurface, it’s so important to have the power tools in your arsenal to tackle them head-on.

The other thing that brains do? They categorically take inconsequential events and build these huge stories and narratives around them that may or may not be true. The best thing you can do about them is to recognize them for what they are, understand that you will have them, no matter what, and learn to reevaluate them so you can reframe your thoughts into better intentions.

 

Developing and Protecting Emotional Self-Care

I believe the most important part of developing new, healthier thought patterns is to have emotional self-care practices in place. One of the best ways to do this is to talk about and set boundaries - not just with the people in your life but also with yourself.

I’d also recommend avoiding “should” statements. They’re limiting and restrictive and don’t often tell you what you actually need to do in your own personal circumstances. They’re also usually tied into your old thought patterns and believes - you know, the ones you’re trying to get rid of!

I also wanted to talk more in-depth about emotional self-care. It’s essential that you develop good self-care practices and protect them so that you can learn how to move forward when these old thoughts resurface. Finally, I warn you about running away from circumstances that don’t serve you.

Do you say “no” and regret it more often? Or do you say “yes” and then you’re more likely to regret it? I want you to practice your boundaries and only say “yes” when you truly feel you want to and it will benefit you. Practice saying “no” more often. See how this makes you feel. Let me know in the comments how this emotional self-care exercise works for you!

 

In This Episode 

• How old limiting beliefs affect our current thought patterns [4:30]
• Why self-care practices are so important when working through distorted thought patterns [10:00]
• The problem with “should” statements and old thoughts [14:00]
• What you need to know about emotional self-care [18:00]
• Why you need to protect your emotional self-care [21:30]
• What happens when you run away from a circumstance [26.45]

 

Quotes

“The negative thoughts don’t stop. It’s just that we have the tools to handle them better!” [4:04]

“We essentially make an assumption based on no data at all. Imagine where our brains can go with that one? These are thought errors that humans experience. You will have them, I will have them, and I do this all day! The key is recognizing them. Recognize them so you can reevaluate them and then you can reframe your thoughts into better intentions.” [16:26]

“We always talk about not necessarily changing the circumstance, but I have to be honest, when you get to the point where you can really wrap your thoughts around the current circumstance in a way that you can come at peace with the situation, then you’re free to do whatever you want. You can change the circumstance. You just have to like your reason. You have to be at peace with your current circumstance because you never want to run away from something.” [26:26]

 

Resources Mentioned

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Podcast production by the team at Counterweight Creative

 

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