Separate you from your thoughts

Objective observation of a negative thought can help create some emotional distance between you and your thoughts.

Share on

Think of negative thoughts and self-talk as momentary or fleeting. You can learn to observe and experience these thoughts without judging them, then allow them to pass from your mind. One way to achieve this is by practicing flipping to an objective observation when experiencing a negative thought or self-talk. Flipping your thoughts from negative to objective does not mean you are changing reality. Instead, you are allowing yourself to experience your thoughts in a way that is more beneficial for you. Doing this will help to create some emotional distance between you and your thoughts and give you a different perspective on them.

The video below, will walk you through an example of how to practice flipping a thought through positive, negative, and objective lenses. The video is roughly 2 minutes in length. You may listen to it whenever and as many times as you need.

References

  1. Pyszkowska, A., & Rönnlund, M. (2021). Psychological flexibility and self-compassion as predictors of well-being: Mediating role of a balanced time perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 671746.

Contributors include:Andréa HillEmily ClarkJill MagisKate HarriMary Ann Baynton

Comments

To add a comment, please: