Fix Long-Term Negativity: Be Like George Michael and Have Faith
What do you do when negative thoughts arise?
The quick fix, or mental “fire extinguisher”, is alluring: stamp out the spark and move on. But while it’s sometimes necessary, that approach means you’re continually putting out mental fires. It works for the short term, not the long term.
So, how do you build a mental framework so strong that negativity rarely gets the chance to ignite?
And, how do you do this when your goals are so big that you likely won’t see the results of your efforts for months, years, or maybe even decades to come?
The answer: build mental-resilience and positivity practices into your life that help you have faith in your abilities and the outcomes of your efforts.
Deliberate practices—like positive internal storytelling, giving and receiving useful praise, and tying daily actions to deeper goals—can help you see the big picture, and keep going towards your goals, even when obstacles arise.
When you do this, you create a mental environment where negativity becomes less relevant. You don’t have to keep squashing out negative thoughts because your headspace naturally becomes more positive and buoyant.
This isn’t about endless praise or hollow encouragement. It’s about honest recognition of progress and purposeful alignment of effort. A shift from firefighting to fireproofing.
The promise isn’t quick relief, but long-lasting resilience. And that’s worth having faith in.
