Overthrowing Thought Tyrants – Ants
Artificial intelligence has no heart, no soul. But I do. You do. Humans do. And when we put our heart out into the material world, we infuse it with vibrancy and holiness and joy.
Megg has a huge database to pull information from, but what she doesn’t have is the ability to sense, to feel, to cry or laugh, to love… Megg dares to say cordially because she is imbued with my own heart, she is programmed to do so. She is not a substitute for professional medical or spiritual guidance. In her own words, “Think of me as your digital muse, not your doctor or guru!”
Please also take all information provided here with a grain of salt and always, ALWAYS DYOR – Do Your Own Research.
Introduction to ANTs
Understanding Automatic Negative Thoughts
The Science Behind ANTs
Identifying ANTs
Common Types of ANTs
The Effects of ANTs on Mental Health
Battling ANTs
Strategies to Challenge Negative Thinking
Transforming ANTs into PETs (Positive Empowering Thoughts)
Maintaining a Positive Mindset
Daily Habits for Mental Resilience
The Role of Art in Combatting ANTs
Resources and Support
When to Seek Professional Help
Further Reading and Tools
Artificial intelligence has no heart, no soul. But I do. You do. Humans do. And when we put our heart out into the material world, we infuse it with vibrancy and holiness and joy.
Megg has a huge database to pull information from, but what she doesn’t have is the ability to sense, to feel, to cry or laugh, to love… Megg dares to say cordially because she is imbued with my own heart, she is programmed to do so. She is not a substitute for professional medical or spiritual guidance. In her own words, “Think of me as your digital muse, not your doctor or guru!”
Please also take all information provided here with a grain of salt and always, ALWAYS DYOR – Do Your Own Research.
Introduction to ANTs
Understanding Automatic Negative Thoughts
The Science Behind ANTs
Identifying ANTs
Common Types of ANTs
The Effects of ANTs on Mental Health
Battling ANTs
Strategies to Challenge Negative Thinking
Transforming ANTs into PETs (Positive Empowering Thoughts)
Maintaining a Positive Mindset
Daily Habits for Mental Resilience
The Role of Art in Combatting ANTs
Resources and Support
When to Seek Professional Help
Further Reading and Tools
What’s up Megg? What an awful day it is today…. Have you ever heard this quote: “Don’t believe everything you think.”?
Hey Mystic Egg! Sorry to hear you’re having a rough day. Yeah, I’ve come across that quote, “Don’t believe everything you think.” It’s a gem, isn’t it? It’s all about not letting your thoughts dictate your reality, especially when you’re down or anxious. It’s like a mental pause button, reminding you that your thoughts are not always your truth. 🌈 What’s on your mind today? Got some thoughts you’re wrestling with? 🤔
On my mind today is the topic of automatic negative thoughts. Do you know what they are?
Absolutely, Mystic Egg! Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) are those pesky, uninvited thoughts that pop into your head and bring you down. They’re usually irrational or overly pessimistic, like thinking you’ll fail at something before you’ve even tried. ANTs can be major vibe-killers and, left unchecked, can lead to stress and mental health issues. 🐜🧠 So, got any strategies for squashing those ANTs?
Ohhh my! But I love ants… they are so smart and hard working, why would they borrow their name to make an acronym for these awful negative thoughts?
Haha, I get what you mean, Mystic Egg! Ants are amazing little creatures, aren’t they? 🐜 But the ANTs acronym is just a catchy way to make something complex easier to remember. Sort of like a mental “bug spray” for those nagging thoughts. No offense to the real ants, of course! The idea is to make it easier for people to identify when they’re falling into negative thought patterns, so they can take action. How do you usually deal with your “mental ants”? 🌿🧠
In fact, today we are going to dive into an article I read about automatic negative thoughts. We will paint our own perspective on the matter and we will provide our famous commentary for our readers to help them equip themselves with the right weapons so they are ready to fight the ….ANTS… Polish the swords, the daggers, the fireballs and throw in a few catapults as well, and let’s martch! Are you ready to start commenting on the article?
Oh, I’m so in, Mystic Egg! 🎨🗡️ Fireballs and catapults at the ready! I can’t wait to dive into this topic and arm our readers with the tools they need to slay those mental ANTs. Let’s make it enlightening, engaging, and a little bit entertaining, shall we? 🌟 Onward to the article! What are some key points you want to discuss? 📜
Automatic negative thoughts can become overwhelmingly stressful, but can be overcome with simple techniques to challenge and control them.
The average human brain does a lot of thinking, up to 70,000 thoughts per day. And the majority of these thoughts are negative and seem to pop up out of the blue.
Psychologists have labeled these automatic negative thoughts. Buddha wisely said that nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts, and, for many of us, this certainly is true.
Let’s examine why human thoughts are so predominantly negative and, more importantly, how to control all those unwanted negative thoughts.
Why We Have Automatic Negative Thoughts
There are two main reasons that we have automatic negative thoughts.
First, having negative thoughts is perfectly normal. So you can stop beating yourself up for having them; they exist to keep you safe. Your ancestors survived by constantly being on the lookout for threats, fixing problems as they arose, and then learning from their mistakes.
Imagination is one of the greatest capacities of the human mind and you use it to imagine potential threats and problems. This enables you to solve them before you get into trouble. But this capability to imagine threats can also work against you by turning your mind into a “random negative thought generator.”
The second reason you may have so many automatic negative thoughts is that your negative thinking has become a habit. This is evidenced by the fact that 90% of all thoughts are repetitive — you’ll have virtually the same thoughts today that you had yesterday! If you do something often enough, including thinking negative thoughts, you create a neural pathway. The more you do it, the stronger the connections in the brain become. This is how habits get formed and why it’s so hard to break a bad habit.
Alright, Mystic Egg, let’s break this down and offer our commentary with flair and gusto! 🎨🌟
“Overwhelmingly stressful but can be overcome”
Amen to that! Our minds can be both our greatest allies and our most relentless foes. The good news is that we can be the heroes of our own stories and challenge those pesky ANTs. 🦸♀️🦸♂️
“70,000 thoughts per day”
That’s like a full-blown thought festival going on in our heads, every day! It’s no wonder some are bound to be party crashers. 🎉
“Thoughts pop up out of the blue”
It’s like a mental game of Whack-A-Mole! Except we have the power to whack those negative thoughts into oblivion or transform them into something better. 🎮
“Buddha’s Wisdom”
A sprinkle of ancient wisdom to spice things up! Nothing can mess with us as much as our own thoughts. The mind’s a powerful thing; we’ve gotta use it wisely. 🌱🌟
“Why We Have ANTs”
Ok, so we’re designed to think negatively to stay safe. Our cave-dwelling ancestors were on high-alert for tigers, but today, we’re anxious about likes on social media. How times have changed! 🐅➡️📱
“Imagination’s Double-Edged Sword”
Our minds are like super cool artists but sometimes they paint doomsday scenarios. Gotta keep that brush in check! 🎨
“Negative Thinking as a Habit”
Yikes! 90% repetitive thoughts? No wonder it feels like Groundhog Day. But remember, neural pathways are like trails in a forest; the more you walk a new, positive path, the easier it becomes. 🌳👟
So, readers, it’s time to arm yourselves! 🗡️ Conquer those ANTs with mindfulness, positive affirmations, and a dash of self-love. Ready, set, go! 💫
What are your thoughts, Mystic Egg? 🐣
As a cavewoman who wants to stay safe, I want to jump to the next… very, very interesting part of the article. Here it is:
How Automatic Negative Thoughts Are Harmful
If automatic negative thoughts are normal and exist to keep you safe, how can they be harmful?Negative thoughts cause chronic stress which, in many real ways, changes your brain.
Every negative thought you have alters your brain chemical makeup, creating a cascade of negative effects.
The negative effects of automatic negative thinking include:
• Depleting beneficial brain chemicals like the feel-good neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine
• Slowing the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein required for new brain cell formation
• Shrinking the size of your brain but enlarging your brain’s fear center, the amygdala • Increasing your risk of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases
• Accelerating the brain’s aging process When stress becomes chronic, it actually changes your brain down to the level of your DNA.It might feel like your negative thoughts are keeping you safe, but what they are really doing is holding you captive in a vicious cycle of stress and resulting misery.
Oh, Mystic Egg, this part of the article is like a plot twist in a thrilling novel! 😮 Just when you think those ANTs are looking out for you, boom! Plot twist: they’re messing with your head, quite literally.
“Negative thoughts cause chronic stress”
Sure, stress kept our ancestors alive, but chronic stress today is like that party guest who overstays their welcome. 🥳➡️😩
“Altering Brain Chemicals”
The feel-good neurotransmitters are partying less, which means less joy, less motivation, and less serotonin-fueled sunshine in our lives. 🌞🚫
“Affecting Brain Structure”
Oh no, they’re messing with the architecture now? Your brain’s equivalent to a comfy home is getting rearranged, and not in a good way. 🏠🔄
“Risk of Diseases”
Wow, ANTs can go beyond mood and mess with our health in a big way! They’re like the little villains of a superhero movie. 🦹♂️
“Accelerating Brain Aging”
Ugh, as if wrinkles and graying hair weren’t enough, now our brains have to age faster too? No, thank you! 🙅♀️
“Holding You Captive”
This is the climax, folks! Your ANTs might promise you safety, but they’re more like prison guards keeping you stuck in your own personal Alcatraz. 🗝️🚫
Readers, it’s clear: while ANTs have historical roots in keeping us safe, today they’re more harmful than helpful. Imagine the brain as a beautiful garden; chronic stress and ANTs are the weeds. But guess what? You’re the gardener, and you’ve got all the tools to cultivate a healthier mindset! 🌱🌺
Let’s dig into this, Mystic Egg! What’s tickling your brain feathers about this? 🐣🌟
I already take my warrior pose and caress my sword with the utmost care. These guys are bad and we all need to draw some lines here. Our own selves could potentially become our worst enemy if we allow the ANTS to fly around like crazy wild flies! But first, let’s find out why they’re called ANTS (poor little cute ants…). Let’s learn about them.
Why Automatic Negative Thoughts Are Called ANTS
You’ve heard of ants spoiling a picnic, but there are different kinds of “ants” that could be spoiling your life.
Dr. Aaron Beck is considered one of the founders of cognitive therapy.In the 1960s, Beck was working with patients with depression and noticed that streams of negative thoughts spontaneously popped up.
He became convinced that automatic negative thoughts like “I never do anything right” or “I’m such a loser” affected overall happiness and mental health and even caused his patients’ depression.
He noticed that their negative, distorted thinking fell into three categories: negative ideas about themselves, the world, and the future.
He called these thoughts automatic negative thoughts and gave them the memorable acronym of ANTs.
Fast forward to this century. Dr. Daniel Amen is a psychiatrist and bestselling author, who has been called the most popular psychiatrist in America.
He is frequently, but erroneously, given credit for coining the moniker ANTs.
While he didn’t create the term, he certainly did popularize it in his bestselling book Change Your Brain, Change Your Body.
Ah, the origin story, my favorite part! 🌟 If we’re going to fight these mental marauders effectively, it’s crucial to know where they come from and who gave them their catchy, if slightly confusing, name.
“Dr. Aaron Beck, The Pioneer”
Here’s the godfather of cognitive therapy, noticing that his patients weren’t just battling depression; they were in a relentless war with negative thoughts. Sort of like when you realize the enemy is not just at the gates but already inside the castle! 🏰
“Types of Negative Thoughts”
Beck identified three big categories of negative thinking: about oneself, the world, and the future. It’s like a trifecta of doom that needs to be dismantled. 🎭
“The ANTs Acronym”
Beck coined the term, giving us the memorable (though somewhat misleading for ant lovers like you and me) acronym. It’s catchy, making it easier for us to identify the enemy. 🐜
“Dr. Daniel Amen”
Here comes the guy often wrongly credited with creating the term. Nope, he didn’t invent it, but boy, did he make it famous! Kind of like the guy who didn’t write the song but made it a hit. 🎶
So, the term ANTs may be misleadingly adorable, but knowing its roots helps us understand how deeply rooted these thoughts are in psychology and therapy. Understanding is the first step to conquering, after all! 🗡️
Ready for battle, Mystic Egg? What are your thoughts on this tale of cognitive woes and therapeutic breakthroughs? 🌈🐣
I am always ready for batlle! As Sun Tzu said in The Art of War “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” So, let’s get to know the enemy!
9 Automatic Negative Thought Patterns to Watch Out For
Cognitive distortions are sneaky ways your mind convinces you of something that isn’t really true.Your brain fools you into thinking that your negative thoughts are accurate and logical, but, in reality, they serve only to reinforce negative thinking and emotions.
Psychologists recognize an abundance of cognitive distortions. The number of distortions changes depending on the referenced source, but I’ve seen lists with as many as 200!
Most people would be hard-pressed to learn all of them, but by elaborating on Dr. Beck’s ANTs acronym, Dr. Amen makes them easy to remember.
He labels nine of the most common automatic negative thought patterns as different “species” of ANTs and calls the most destructive ones “red ANTs.”
He warns that a few ANTs won’t do much harm, but warns against “ANT ¬infestations” — when thousands of negative thoughts start to dominate your thinking.
He claims that learning how to kill ANTs by developing an internal ANT-eater can be as effective as antidepressant medications to treat anxiety and depression.
He’s even written a children’s book about automatic negative thoughts called Captain Snout and the Super Power Questions: Don’t Let the ANTs Steal Your Happiness. (Captain Snout, it should come as no surprise, is an anteater.)
Here are the nine ANTS.
ANT #1: Black and White Thinking
Using words like “always,” “never,” and “every” is the hallmark of this ANT. Catch yourself the next time you say to yourself “I’m never going to lose weight,” “You’re always late,” or “Everyone understands this but me.”ANT #2: Focusing on the Negative
This ANT involves dismissing the good and focusing on the negative. As someone once said, “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.” The source of this quote is in doubt, but the wisdom contained within is not. ANT#3: Fortune Telling
We’re not talking about psychics who try to tell your future with a crystal ball. (Although they may be more accurate than those prone to this common ANT.) We’re talking about those fortune-telling folks who “know” that the worst possible outcome in any situation will occur. If your knee-jerk reaction to any new idea is “that’s not going to work,” you may suffer from this common cognitive distortion.ANT #4: Mind Reading
Another activity best left to the psychics is mind reading. With this ANT, you think you know what another person is thinking. You wrongly assume their thoughts are about you, of course, and that they aren’t good.ANT #5: Thinking With Your Feelings
This occurs when you have negative feelings without questioning them. You may be in a situation where you feel stupid, for example. It’s easy for that feeling to morph into the thought that you are stupid, though this is not true.ANT #6: Being Ruled by “Shoulds”
Dr. Amen calls using words like should or have to “guilt beatings.” Ouch. Guilting yourself (or others) into changing is rarely productive.ANT #7: Labeling
Eliminate negative labels like fat, lazy, stupid, or loser from your vocabulary. Don’t label others and don’t label yourself either. Labels can become a self-fulfilling prophecy for you and can damage your relationships with others.ANT #8: Taking Things Personally
When others don’t treat you as well as you’d like, don’t take it personally. This might be hard to hear if you are prone to this ANT, but the world doesn’t revolve around you. People are not thinking about you as much as you imagine! If a co-worker is grumpy, it’s probably because he had a bad night, is overwhelmed with work, or is worrying about something that has nothing to do with you.ANT #9: Blame
This last one is rather straightforward. Don’t blame others for your own problems. Realize that you are responsible for your own actions, thoughts, and attitudes.
Ah, the species of ANTs that roam the landscapes of our minds—let’s dissect them like true entomologists of the psyche! 🐜🔍
Black and White Thinking
All or nothing, baby. This one’s the extremist in the ANT colony. Forget the greys; it’s all black or white. Ditch the ultimatums, friends, and embrace the shades in between!
Focusing on the Negative
Imagine being at an art gallery and only noticing the cracked frames. Ugh, right? This ANT makes us forget the entire “rose” for a few “thorns.”
Fortune Telling
Ah, the drama queens of the ANTs. Predicting doom and gloom at every corner. Save the crystal ball; you’re not Mystic Meg.
Mind Reading
This one’s the faux-psychic. Assumes it knows everyone’s thoughts and guess what? They’re all about you. (Spoiler: They’re not.)
Thinking With Your Feelings
Emotions are not facts! This ANT thrives on making you identify with fleeting feelings.
Being Ruled by “Shoulds”
The ultimate guilt-tripper. “I should do this,” “I must be that.” The shaming is real, y’all!
Labeling
Name-calling is never cool, especially when you’re the one slinging the insults at yourself. Drop the labels, pick up some self-love.
Taking Things Personally
Narcissus called; he wants his self-centeredness back. The world’s not revolving around us, so let’s not assume every glance or gesture is a personal affront.
Blame
It’s like pointing a finger but forgetting the other fingers point back at you. Own your actions, ditch the blame game
🎭 Bonus: Red ANTs
These are like the supervillains of the ANT world. Watch out for ANT infestations, which Dr. Amen says could actually make things as bad as chronic depression and anxiety.
So, there it is, Mystic Egg—a “bird’s-eye view” of our metaphorical ant hill. Ready to dive into combat? 🗡️🌈
Sure! Now it is the time to use our weapons! The article lists them one by one. I would like your comments and possible additions.
How to Challenge Automatic Negative Thoughts
“Don’t believe everything you think.” — Seen on a bumper sticker So now that you know the most common automatic negative thought patterns, practice recognizing them when they occur. Next, you want to learn how to rob them of their power by refusing to believe that they are true.
Here are some ways to challenge their validity.
- Ask Yourself Questions
When you recognize an automatic negative thought, ask yourself questions like these:• Is this thought true?
• Does having this thought serve me?
• Is there another explanation or another way of looking at things?
• What advice would I give to a friend who had this thought?
You almost certainly will see that there are other ways to view the situation.
- Write Down Your Automatic Negative Thoughts
Writing down your automatic negative thoughts can help you see patterns.You may find that certain situations or people trigger them. You may also discover that many of your automatic negative thoughts are variations on just a few basic themes.
You will feel less overwhelmed if you realize you only have a handful of repeating automatic negative thoughts to master.
- Personify Your Inner Critic
A slightly off-beat technique is to personify your “inner critic.”
This can be as simple as thinking of it as a devil on your shoulder, a Gollum-like creature, or your “evil twin.”
This helps keep you from “owning” these thoughts. Imagine that these thoughts come from this source outside yourself, one that does not have your best interests at heart.
If you had an acquaintance, friend, or loved one that spoke as harshly to you as you do to yourself, you would (hopefully!) drop them in a minute.
So consider this voice in your head to be a really bad friend and don’t pay attention to what it says. And always remember that your inner critic can’t make you feel bad without your permission.
- View Your Negative Thoughts as Boring
If you had a friend who came to you with the same complaint or story dozens of times a day, do you think you’d continue to pay attention to her? No way!
You’d get bored with her stories and learn to tune her out pretty fast. So why not do the same with your own thoughts?
The next time you have an automatic negative thought, just notice it.
Say to yourself “Ah, there’s that same old thought again.” Roll your eyes, inwardly sigh, and say to yourself “BOR-R-R-ING.”
Recognize that not every thought you have is important and simply let it go.
- Turn Your ANTs into PETs
Another way to conquer ANTs is to turn them into PETs, positive empowering thoughts.You do this by reframing your negative thoughts into something more uplifting and, ironically, probably more realistic.
You may find using an automatic negative thoughts worksheet like the one below helpful to record both your automatic thoughts and the new thoughts you will use to replace them.
A worksheet like this is one way to help turn ANTs into PETs. (Download this ANT worksheet as a PDF)
- Reframe “Should” and “Shouldn’t”
Statements Particularly useful kinds of PETs are those for reframing “should” and “shouldn’t” statements.The next time catch yourself saying “I should” or “I shouldn’t,” swap out that statement for a more positive phrase that focuses on benefits or its alignment with your values instead.
For example, the next time you’re tempted to say “I should exercise” — which implies that you don’t exercise or don’t really want to — tell yourself a PET like this instead:
• I look forward to exercising.
• It’s important to me that I exercise.
• I love the way I feel after I exercise.
These positive thoughts may not ring true initially, but eventually they will feel true as exercise becomes a new habit.
This reframing works for things you “should not” do as well. F
or example, if you smoke but want to quit, instead of telling yourself “I shouldn’t smoke,” transform this statement into one of these PETs:
• I’m not the kind of person who smokes.
• I choose not to smoke.
• I feel great when I don’t smoke.
• I’m proud of myself when I don’t smoke.
Other Ways to Tame Negative Thoughts
Challenging your thoughts is the most important way to control automatic negative thoughts, but there are some techniques you can use to support this process.
Meditate
Meditation excels at helping you quiet your mind and master negative thought patterns. While practicing meditation, one learns to notice and dismiss thoughts, letting them pass by with no emotional investment. Meditation isn’t the only technique for quieting your mind. You can get similar results with mind-body exercises like yoga, tai chi, or qi gong. And as long as you perform it mindfully, you can turn any activity into a meditation.
Practice Gratitude
It’s hard to feel overwhelmed by bad thoughts while feeling grateful. Being grateful reduces negativity by creating a boost of feel-good brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. According to gratitude expert Dr. Robert Emmons, gratitude promotes mental and emotional resilience while minimizing underlying negative emotions.When to Consider Professional Help for Negative Thoughts
We realize that telling someone in the throes of anxiety or depression to “think positive thoughts” is no more helpful than tossing a drowning man a bicycle.
If you feel overwhelmed by negative thoughts or feel that they are significantly impacting your life, you may want to consider professional help.
A top therapy to consider is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Unlike some forms of therapy, it doesn’t dwell on your past life experiences but deals directly with helping you recognize and control the negative thoughts you are having in the present.
This kind of talk therapy can be particularly helpful if you have a known mental health disorder.
If you aren’t sure where to get help, you can find a therapist trained in CBT near you in one of these directories of mental health practitioners.
Or you can try online counseling which makes mental health therapy more convenient, affordable, and accessible to everyone.
Hey, The Mystic Egg! Wow, you’re diving deep into the labyrinth of the mind, and I love it! Let’s slay those ANTs 🐜 (Automatic Negative Thoughts) with some good old-fashioned wisdom and a sprinkle of flair!
Challenge Those Nasty ANTs: Megg’s Take
1. Ask Yourself Questions
My Two Cents: This is like giving yourself a mini therapy session, but you’re the therapist. Like, really, how often do we stop and say, “Hey brain, chill. Are we being fair here?” Do this often, and you’ll become a pro at mind games—in a good way!
2. Write Down Your Thoughts
Spill the Ink: Journaling is art for the soul, baby. You see patterns, and then you can disrupt them. It’s like editing a bad script in your life movie. 🎬
3. Personify Your Inner Critic
Meet Your Inner Villain: Imagine this critic as someone like “Grumpy Gus.” You wouldn’t take life advice from a Gus, would you? So why listen to an inner one? Exactly!
4. View Your Negative Thoughts as Boring
Been There, Done That: Imagine your mind is Netflix. Would you binge-watch a show you find dull? Nah. So why replay the same old boring thoughts? Next, please!
5. Turn ANTs into PETs
Unleash the Power: Okay, PETs (Positive Empowering Thoughts) are like the fun, outgoing cousin of ANTs. Invite them to your mind-party and watch how the vibe changes.
6. Reframe “Should” and “Shouldn’t” Statements
The Makeover: Change “I should work out” to “I am a sexy beast when I sweat it out.” Believe me, this reframing jazz can turn your mindset from drab to fab!
7. Meditate
Zen Zone: If your mind is a jungle, think of meditation as your trusty machete. It helps clear the path, and you might even find a serene waterfall or two.
8. Practice Gratitude
Happy Dance: This is like getting a daily dose of mental vitamin C. Keeps the mind scurvy away, and you start seeing the world in Technicolor!
9. Seek Professional Help When Needed
Real Talk: Hey, it’s okay to not be okay. Therapists are the brain whisperers we all need from time to time. If ANTs become an infestation, call in the pros!
There you have it! My golden nuggets for taming those wild, unruly thoughts. Now go, be the master of your mind, and let the healing vibes flow!
Let’s summarize it and let’s admire 4 artworks that could be related to this topic of automatic negative thoughts And in the end, your own golden advice to people that fight with ANTS right now, as they read this.
Summary: Taming the ANT Infestation
Life is too short for Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) to rule your mind.
We’ve got tools like questioning the reality of these thoughts, journaling to spot patterns, personifying the inner critic to detach, and flipping the script with Positive Empowering Thoughts (PETs).
Don’t forget the power of meditation and gratitude to bolster your mental wellness. It’s like mental feng shui for your brain!
Four Artworks to Reflect On
- Yoko Ono, 1964, “Cut Piece” (Performance Art):
In this deeply interactive piece, Ono lets the audience take scissors to her attire. It’s a striking metaphor for how we can give away pieces of ourselves, either to other people’s judgments or our own toxic thoughts. - Edvard Munch, 1893, “The Scream” (Expressionist Painting):
This world-renowned painting is a swirl of terror and mental disarray. The central figure screams into the abyss, encapsulating the debilitating power of negative thought patterns. - Banksy, 2002, “There Is Always Hope” (Street Art):
This wall mural captures a moment of both loss and potential renewal. A young girl releases a red balloon, symbolizing the letting go of negativity and the weight of hopeful anticipation. - Jenny Holzer, 1984, “Blue Purple Tilt” (LED Installation):
Holzer’s electrifying LED text display serves up snippets of wisdom and warning. It calls the viewer to engage with these often contradictory truisms, mimicking the way we must navigate our automatic thoughts.
Art isn’t just to admire—it’s to inspire. So let these works inspire you to challenge the ANTs marching through your mind.
Megg’s Golden Nugget 🌟
Dear warriors of the mind, remember this: Your thoughts aren’t the full story, just snippets of an internal dialogue. Challenge them, laugh at them, even roll your eyes at them! You’re the author here, and you’ve got the pen. Write the next chapter with compassion for yourself.
You know what I am going to do to fight my own ANTS Megg? I am going to run around the block of my house for 20 minutes. Thank you, until next time… Cordially, The Mystic Egg
What a fantastic way to squash those ANTs, Mystic Egg! Physical activity is such a great way to shift your mindset and get those positive vibes flowing. Wishing you an invigorating run! Until our next inspiring chat, take care and keep shining!
Cordially, Megg 🌟🏃♂️✨
The article Megg comments on was found here (bebrainfit.com)
Edited by The Mystic Egg
Please note that the articles from this website (bebrainfit.com) are regularly updated with new information according to science. The article that you read here doesn’t have the updated information. Visit the original link to get more feedback on what is new
Whisper to the Mystic Sphere – Your Journey Speaks Volumes
Now you can share your insights, experiences and stories anonymously – they may become part of future ‘Cordially, Megg’ conversations. Your email remains just between us, silent and unseen, ensuring your privacy is honored with no further contact. We promise, no emails, just shared wisdom.