My Personal Journey
Life is full of highs and lows. We all experience moments of joy, success, failure, and sadness. Our minds respond to these moments. The thoughts we let grow can shape how we see ourselves and the world. Feeling sad after facing a setback—like failing an exam or missing an opportunity—is completely normal. However, when we get stuck in sadness and negative thoughts, it can interfere with our daily life. That’s when it becomes a problem.
I’ve been there. And through my own experience, I’ve learned that awareness is the first step. We need to recognize those thoughts, learn to cope with them, and eventually replace them with more balanced, realistic ones. Let me be clear: asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Sometimes we’re too deep in our own heads to sort things out alone—and that’s okay. Reaching out to a therapist or counselor isn’t something to be embarrassed about. What matters most is how you pull yourself out of that sea of negativity, whether you do it with support or on your own.
Today, I want to share how I managed to cope with my overwhelming negative thoughts—mainly through my own willpower.
The Power of Will
I believe willpower plays a huge role when you’re going through tough times. Once I realized that my negative thoughts were not just passing emotions, but actual blocks to my daily functioning, I felt an inner push to do something about it. That recognition became my motivation to change.
I started noticing the toll it was taking—how I was neglecting self-care, wasting time, and not being fully present for my loved ones. It was in that moment that I knew something had to change. So, I began a small but powerful habit: writing.
Writing My Way Through the Storm
I started by writing down the overwhelming thoughts that kept playing in my mind. I didn’t judge them—I just acknowledged them and put them on paper. Then, I made an effort to focus on the present moment. I’d describe how I felt, what I saw around me, even what I was grateful for. Later, I’d compare the two sets of thoughts—those from my anxious mind and those grounded in the present.
It was eye-opening.
That simple act helped me see how irrational and exaggerated many of my negative thoughts were. From there, I began to challenge those thoughts and replace them with more compassionate, realistic ones.
From “I’m a Failure” to “I’m Still Growing”
Here’s an example of one of the most painful thoughts I struggled with:
“I’m a failure. I failed my competitive exam. I’ll never be successful in life.”
Now here’s what I wrote after grounding myself in the present:
“I’m a writer. A teacher. An empathetic person. I have an education. I have skills. There are so many opportunities I can create for myself.”
And finally, here’s the positive, rational thought I replaced it with:
“Failing one exam doesn’t make me a failure.”
How to stop overwhelming negative thoughts? Here are some tips:
Practice mindfulness
Set time limits
focus on solutions
gratitude
focus on your strengths
repeat positive affirmations
Get a therapy or counselling session
Final Thoughts
Negative thoughts can feel all-consuming, but they don’t define you. With awareness, a little self-kindness, and maybe even a notebook, you can begin to take back control.
You’re not alone, and healing is always within reach.
You Are Not Alone, and You Don’t Have to Deal with It Alone.
