Ever wonder what a therapist does for her own mental health?

Now that we are a couple of weeks into the new year, some of us may find that our goals are already fading. The key to making behavioral changes is taking small steps. However, our mindsets also play a bigger role than we realize. A positive mindset gets us much further.  
 
In my years of practicing therapy, I’ve discovered that people can sometimes be oblivious to the ways that they are sabotaging themselves simply by the way that they think! 
A classic example is when we slip up and order french fries instead of a salad with dinner and then say to ourselves, "What the heck, I already ruined my diet so I may as well order the flourless chocolate cake for dessert!" And to make matters worse, there’s also a little something called a “negativity bias” we have to deal with.

Psychologist, Dr. Rick Hanson describes the negativity bias in this way: bad experiences stick like "Velcro,” while our positive experiences are more like "Teflon.” Neuroscience shows us that we must consciously, and with focused intention, reframe our thoughts to think positively. Once we recognize our negative thinking about ourselves, we can make space for all the other possibilities. What we think, we become. It’s a good thing we can also choose our thoughts. When we practice this over time, we can rewire our brains to think more optimistically and positively! So, as we move into 2020, remember to take baby steps, and always strive to maintain a positive frame of mind.
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Kerrie Mohr, LCSW
A Good Place Therapy & Consulting
www.agoodplacetherapy.com

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