Just because you think it… doesn’t mean its true

Ever had thoughts like: “They don’t really like me.” “I’m not good enough.” “I’ve messed everything up.”

Sometimes your mind can make a thought feel like a fact. And when you’re stressed, overwhelmed or running on empty, it can become much easier to focus on the negative, the problems and the things that might go wrong. That doesn’t mean those thoughts are facts. It means you’ve got a full stress bucket.

Imagine you have a stress bucket in your mind and every stress, worry, responsibility, lack of sleep and difficult experience adds a little more to it. The fuller your bucket becomes, the harder it is to cope. When that bucket is overflowing even a small situation can suddenly feel like a BIG problem.

You might find yourself thinking: “Nobody likes me.” “I’m not good enough.” “I can’t cope.” “Something bad is going to happen.” “I always get things wrong.” The thought can feel incredibly convincing. But feeling something strongly doesn’t always make it true.

When your stress levels are lower, you have more capacity to deal with what the day might throw at you. Instead of: “They don’t like me.”

You might think: “I wonder if there could be another explanation?”

Instead of: “I can’t cope.”

You might think: “This feels difficult right now, but I can take it one step at a time.”

The situation may be the same. But your response to it can be very different. In Solution Focused Hypnotherapy we call this a ‘Reframe’

You don’t need to believe every thought you have. Sometimes the thought isn’t the problem. Sometimes your stress bucket is simply too full. Learning to understand your brain, reduce your stress levels and create more space can change the way you experience life completely.

You are not your thoughts.