My Favorite Way to Drown Out Negative Thoughts – a CEO Perspective

As an executive, it’s easy to get bogged down by negative thoughts and the pressures of work. But it’s essential to take care of your mental health and find ways to stay positive and focused. Here are 3 methods that will boost your positivity and help drown out those negative thoughts:

My favorite way to drown out negative thoughts is by focusing on the positives. Taking a few minutes each day to reflect on my accomplishments, strengths, and successes can go a long way in boosting my mood and motivation. I recommend creating a folder in your email titled ACCOMPLISHMENTS or SUNSHINE FILE. For every success, file the email related to that success in the folder. Don’t have an email for it? Send yourself one that includes the details and how you felt as a result of this accomplishment. When negative thoughts start to creep in, take a few minutes and read through this folder. Guaranteed to brighten your mood.

Another great way to drown out negative thoughts is by finding a healthy outlet for stress. Exercise, meditation, or spending time in nature are all excellent options for reducing stress and boosting your mood. Studies show that doing something with your hands releases endorphins that automatically lift your mood. Negative thoughts popping in? Having a down day? Put on some upbeat music and attack that sink full of dishes. Head outside and plant some flowers or some herbs. Positive thoughts and endorphins will be flooding into your system!

Change the narrative. I recently read a fabulous book on this, The Gap and The Gain by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan. Too often we focus on the gap, the part of our goal that we have yet to accomplish. “Are you kidding? I still have another mile before I finish this run??!” We should instead change the narrative and focus on the gain – what we HAVE accomplished toward our goal. “Sweet! I am 4 miles in on my 5-mile run. Almost done!!” This small shift in thinking will reap tremendous rewards. Our bodies react to our inner dialogue – being our own cheerleader results in many more positive outcomes.

At the end of the day, it’s important to find what works for you and make it a priority in your routine. Visualize success, practice gratitude. Taking care of your mental health is essential to being a successful and effective leader. And it’s contagious. Your positivity will begin to rub off on your team, leading to less stress and more success!

For more thoughts from LUMINI’s CEO, Jackie Ludwig, subscribe to our newsletter here.