Avoid
rumination.
You
may find yourself thinking about something negative, even when you really don't
want to. There are a number of tricks you can use to control your mind and stop
ruminating
Think about the worst case scenario.
Although this seems counter-intuitive and like it would just lead to even more
ruminating, when you think about the worst case scenario, and then think about
whether you would be able to handle it; you'll likely find that you can imagine
yourself handling the situation and this can help decrease your worry.
Schedule time for yourself to worry. By
setting aside time to think about your problem, you can rest assured that it
will get the attention it (maybe) needs; this can help you stop thinking
excessively about your problem when you don't want to.
Go for a walk. Getting out and about can get
your mind off of your worries, either simply because of the exercise itself or
because you will be taking in new information (sights, sounds, smells) which
can help your mind wander to other, less distressing things.
Believe
in yourself and that you can change.
If
you don't believe that you can change you're not going to try nearly as hard as
if you believe success is possible. So, make sure that you're using positive
thinking to face your problem. Try to keep in mind that you can change the way
you think, that you can improve.
Studies show that individuals adopting this
"growth" mindset are more likely to make desired improvements than
those who view their traits and skills as fixed and unchangeable
Avoid
personalization
This
is a thought trap where you take personal responsibility for things that are
out of your control. To avoid personalization, try to think carefully and
logically about events that you are personalizing. It can help to ask yourself
some questions.
Be
optimistic about your abilities
You might think that being accurate about your
ability to control yourself is key. However, studies show that being overly
optimistic about your ability to control your behavior can help give you even
more self-control.
To be optimistic, try telling yourself that
you will succeed and control your mind over and over again, even if in the
moment you don't believe so.
Try also to remind yourself of times where
you successfully controlled your mind as intended. Reflect only on these
successes and not on any self-control failures you might have had.
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