Transform Your Life: Overcoming Depression with Positive Thinking

Hey there! Grab a cup of coffee and let’s chat about something that affects millions of people worldwide: Depression. Admittedly, it’s not the easiest topic to discuss, but today I want to shed some light on how thinking patterns can play a major role in depression and how learning to control your thoughts can provide a path to healing.

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You see, our minds are incredibly powerful. They have this uncanny ability to shape the way we perceive ourselves, others, and the world around us. Unfortunately, for some of us, that power can unintentionally lead us down a path of pessimism, self-doubt, hopelessness and depression. I know it did for me.

The Thinking Triangle:

The Thinking Triangle includes our Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviour.
Let’s take a moment to visualize a triangle with three corners—thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. These three aspects are interconnected in a way that can significantly impact our mental health. Our thoughts create our feelings which then influence our behaviours. When negative thinking patterns become the norm, they can distort our emotions and influence how we behave. It’s like a vicious cycle that seems impossible to break free from, but fear not, my friend, because you can change your thinking patterns!

The thinking Triangle Thoughts Feelings
Behaviours

Is it Time to Change Your Thoughts?

Once you realize that your thoughts are creating your feelings, it’s time to challenge and reframe those negative thinking patterns. By examining our thoughts and questioning their validity, we can start to rewrite the narrative in our minds. It’s like editing out the negative scenes, so that you leave behind a masterpiece focused on positive self-belief, growth, and resilience.

Identifying Thinking Patterns: The Detective Work Begins

To begin this transformative process, we must first become detectives of our own minds. It’s time to ask ourselves some tough questions: What are the recurring thoughts that plague us? Are they factual, or are they simply interpretations or assumptions? Are we catastrophizing situations or engaging in black-and-white thinking? Using a journal to keep track of your thoughts can help you identify and process them. It will also help you notice patterns.

By identifying these thinking patterns, we gain the power to challenge them. We can start asking ourselves, “Is there another way to see this situation?” or “Is this thought helping or harming me?” It’s incredible how a simple shift in perspective can lead to a whole new world of possibilities.

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Testing Our Thoughts: The Reality Check We Need

Now, let’s put these thoughts to the test. Think of them as stubborn old habits that need a reality check. So ask yourself, “What evidence do I have that supports this thought?” and “What evidence contradicts it?” Often, we’ll find that there’s a wealth of evidence that contradicts our negative thoughts, which can be a real eye-opener. It’s like realizing you’ve been watching a movie in black and white when it was meant to be in vivid Technicolor all along!

Replacing Negative Thoughts: The Power of Positive Affirmations

Once we’ve debunked those negative thoughts, it’s time to replace them with something better. Imagine being your own personal cheerleader! Positive affirmations are powerful tools in rewiring our thinking patterns. We can repeat statements like “I am worthy,” “I am capable,” or “I deserve happiness” until they become ingrained in our minds, uplifting and empowering us in times of struggle.

Read my post about affirmations to learn how to make them work for you.

The Journey to Change

Now, I won’t lie—it’s not always easy to break free from old thinking patterns. There will be days when it feels like you’re back at square one, but remember this: change takes time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and personal growth doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient and gentle with yourself along this journey.

positive thinking is a journey woman standing on top of a cliff with water and sky in the background

Seeking Professional Help

While these techniques can work wonders, it’s important to acknowledge that grappling with depression can be tough—sometimes too tough to handle alone. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional if you need additional support. They can guide you through the process with expertise and compassion, ensuring you have the necessary tools to thrive.

If you are interested in working with me, book your FREE Think Happy Strategy Session so we can chat about your next step.

Wrap Up

Remember that your thoughts hold incredible power, and you have the power to change them! By challenging negative thinking patterns you can gradually free yourself from the grip of depression. Embrace the journey, be patient with yourself, and know that you are capable of creating a positive and fulfilling life.

Now go out there and rewrite your story—one positive thought at a time! You’ve got this.

👉 Do you want to know more about positive thinking? Read this amazing post by Sheenia Denae What You Need to Know About Positive Self-Talk

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60 Comments

  1. Love reading this post. Rewriting your story is a powerful concept. Having lived it for 4-5 years now, I know it can be done. But the road of transformation isn’t easy.

  2. Nice post and some great suggestions. I struggle to to break free from old thinking patterns…its difficult the older we get! I’ll try visualising the triangle thanks for sharing

    1. Thanks so much! It is definitely not easy to change our thinking patterns, regardless of age. The trick is to keep at it. The more you practice positive thinking, the more automatic it becomes. Negative thoughts may still slip in there now and again, but you will be more aware of them and be able to shift them much more quickly.

  3. Any steps we can take that help to interrupt anxious or depressed actions and thoughts are really useful to try out. It’s not always possible to do this (it depends on the situation/experience) but having a few ideas about what can help us work through something like this is essential. Sometimes positive thinking is a great way to reframe how we approach or react to something and can be a useful first step.

    1. Absolutely. It can be very challenging to change our thinking especially when we are in the middle of a difficult experience. However, the more we practice positive thinking, the more resilient we become. We are then able to better handle difficult situations and rather than ruminate on all the negatives, we look for a way to make things better.

  4. What a wonderful post. I know so many people especially in the last few years who have depression thank you for such helpful tips on how to overcome this. I’m glad to hear you’ve been successful in rewiring some of your old thinking patterns this is so powerful. Thank you for sharing!

  5. This really resonates with me. I started to realize this and I constantly have to remind myself that my thoughts are creating my feelings. You mentioned changing the narrative and this is so true! Thanks for sharing!

  6. I’m always looking for new ways to live a more positive life. this post was great for that and some great tips to help.

    1. It’s easy to get caught up in negativity which is why it’s so important to strive for more positivity in our lives. A little can go a long way. I’m happy you found so much value in this post.

  7. I’m happy I get to read this helpful article. I totally agree that we have to change our thoughts if it’s affecting too much of our feelings because letting it take over our feelings might lead also to something bad.

  8. So true! just because we’ve been thinking in a certain way for our whole life, it doesn’t mean those are positive and healthy thoughts to keep having. Asking questions such as “Is this true? Is this a fact?” is a game-changer. Thank you for sharing!

  9. I’ve been such a negative person for so long that it was a struggle to be positive. So I chose to intentionally and consistently try to be positive every day! I’ve been on it for 2 years now and never felt better!

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