Breaking the Loop: Harnessing Positivity to Reshape Your Thoughts

You're a product of your loops. You create them and you live in them whether you're cognizant of it or not.

The world you build, year after year becomes you. And the loops feed it.

I've been there - still am. The loops have a strong impact on everything I do. The slow, spiraling loop controls it all.

The Loop

The loop, by definition, is a thought circle. It's the lingering thought in your head that you tend to repeat to yourself in any given scenario of your day to day.

It is usually the product of negativity.

The cause could be something someone said, something someone did, something you read, or something you thought of. There is no telling when it will hit, but it does, and it hits hard.

It's truly amazing the impact a mere thought can have on the mind.

Like a plant, it roots itself and starts spreading. Before you know it, the loop can become you or at least a piece of you.

We all know this exact feeling and we sit in it. Let it consume, control, and overtake us.

Question is, why do we allow this to happen in a negative state?

Negativity Bias

The simple answer is we have innate biases that drive us. This one is strictly tied to the negativity bias.

The negativity bias is a cognitive bias that refers to the tendency for people to pay more attention to, and give more weight to, negative information or stimuli than positive information or stimuli.

Our brains are literally wired in some sense to react more to negativity instead of what we would prefer, like positivity.

But just because this is innate doesn't mean we cannot turn this in our favor.

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Fun side study - learning biases can be extremely interesting. I definitely recommend the book "The Art of Thinking Clearly" by Rolf Dobelli if this interests you.

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Let's dive in a little bit more of common practice to help correct negativity bias which will help us address the loops that we run into.

1) Self-Awareness

Being cognizant of the thoughts you are thinking is imperative to catch negativity bias. Sounds easier than it actually is but this discipline is necessary to train yourself to think the way you want.

2) Being in the NOW

A lot of negativity can stem from focusing our thoughts on things and issues we cannot control.

Spending time to do practices that bring you into the present can help limit this.

• Meditation is a common practice to center yourself and I highly recommend it if you are trying to find balance in your mind.

• Journaling and getting the thoughts out on paper can help you change them.

3) Realize the Positive

We do a ton of positive things everyday... yet they almost always get overlooked. As soon as a negative thing occurs it's like the whole world is ending, right? You need to realize the Positive in everything and give your energy to it.

It's Not All Bad

Don't let this dissuade you from realizing that negativity has its place.

It can be an extensive motivator to get things done, learn more, grow as a human, and achieve things you didn't think you could.

It all hinges on how you use it - don't get caught up in the negative effects of negativity and instead use its power to drive you forward.

Let's get back to the loops.

The Recovered Loop

As mentioned, negativity bias is a huge reason our thought loops spiral so easily in the negative direction.

I've mentioned how powerful they can be, as we all have experienced this as well. So what if we could use these loops the way they were intended?

As defined: A thought loop is a process triggered in your brain by a cause from your exterior or interior. Meaning it can be something said to you or something you said to yourself.

Since we tend to only really PICK UP on negativity - our thought loops tend to head in that direction.

So the fix is easy, right? Just pick up on the positive things and cycle through them.

When was the last time you went through a positive loop in your head? Can't remember it, right?

Going back to the prior quote - we tend to not really react to the positive things. So there's a good chance it may have happened and you don't even remember it!

So how do we change this?

Celebrate the Wins

No matter how big or small - you have to give your wins the attention they deserve.

We will rarely notice them without. Our brain does not give the positive the attention it truly deserves because positivity isn't a danger.

With an outlook that leans into the positive; the wins, and what we desire, we cultivate a life that wants to win.

Let's tie this practice back into the loop

The Winning Loop

It is imperative that you train your brain to breed what you want it to.

The only way to do this is to inject it with the lifeline you desire. Give it the focus, energy, and obsession you truly want.

This is done by building the Loops you want cycling through your brain.

You begin this process by visualizing what you actually want to be doing. Write it down, breathe it in, think about it, say it, and think about it. Give it the time it deserves.

Inevitably your brain will try to distract you and pull you in another direction. It will try to tell you this is silly, isn't worth your time, and it doesn't work. You have to ignore these thoughts. Your brain is trying to keep you where you are. It likes you the way you are.

It is important you repeat this cycle over and over every single day. It will slowly become you.

You will begin to think differently, feel different, act different, and be who you are thinking about.

Lets Recap

• Thought loops are repetitive patterns of thinking that can be influenced by negativity.

• Negativity bias, our tendency to focus more on negative information, contributes to the formation of thought loops.

• Self-awareness is essential in identifying and addressing negative thought loops.

• Practicing mindfulness and focusing on what we can control helps break free from negative thought patterns.

• Recognizing and celebrating positive experiences and wins can rewire the brain and redirect thought loops towards success.