Here is a great tool if you ever feel stuck in your negative thinking patterns. Negative thinking is quite normal, no one on this plant, not even Oprah, thinks positive ALL the time.

You see, most of us react strongly to things that are important to us (such as a game or competition) or when we are facing a new challenge (aiming for a new PR). It is a very normal and human thing to do, however if we want to be able to manage the situation more effectively I suggest trying out some of the “cognitive restructuring” statements below. Cognitive restructuring is just a fancy words that means changing your thoughts.

I do not believe it is realistic to change a strongly negative thought pattern to a positive-all-rainbows-and-sunshine thought and it be immediately effective. These statements are not a quick fix. But what I do like is that it’s is more adaptive, progressive improvement to our thinking- adaptive, effective. You can’t go from running at 9 minute mile to a 6 minute mile in a day or week, so don’t expect your mental skills, especially new thinking patterns to change without consistent practice and awareness. You are a result of what you practice.  -Dr. P