#574: Intrusive Thoughts and Over-Personalizing Everything

Podcast #574 INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS AND OVER-PERSONALIZING EVERYTHING Do you ever feel like the thoughts you are thinking are making life harder for you? Like, you're stuck in a cycle of beating yourself up and that self-critical voice just struggles to see you the way the people who love you say they see you? Or maybe you sometimes get a sticky negative thought about yourself, or about your past, and you just can't seem to shake the anxious and mental distraction that is a result? For years I was frustrated with how many negative thoughts and intrusive thoughts I still had even though I was managing my mind and doing "the work" of positive thinking … but then I learned an entirely different approach to my inner self-talk that made my life feel massively better, even with the negative thoughts that sometimes still sneak in. If you've ever felt stuck in your own thoughts, this episode is for you. We're coaching on intrusive thoughts and what to do about them, as well as some confidence power hacks to help you stop over-personalizing what other people are saying or thinking. In this episode of The Confidence Podcast, we're coaching on: * Intrusive thoughts and what to do about them * How to not personalize or self-intimidate how other people act * Some simple power hacks that will always shift you from negativity to positivity REVIEW OF THE WEEK: INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS: Know that it's normal. Understand your own brain's patterns There are some days when my brain is messy and unkind. I have to fight harder on those days. I have to be on guard. I have to create a fortress.  Intrusive Thoughts: Just thoughts. They come and they go. They knock, you don't have to open the door. Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, distressing, and often disturbing or unsettling thoughts, images, or ideas that repeatedly enter a person's mind against their will. These thoughts are typically unwanted and can be very distressing, as they often involve violent, sexual, or socially inappropriate content. Intrusive thoughts can be a common aspect of various mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It's important to note that having intrusive thoughts does not necessarily mean a person will act on them; they are a natural part of human cognition but can become problematic when they cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. It's important to remember that managing intrusive thoughts is an ongoing process, and different strategies work for different people. It may take time and patience to find what works best for you. Consulting with a mental health professional is often a crucial step in developing an effective coping strategy. Acceptance: Acknowledge that intrusive thoughts are a common part of human experience, and having them does not make you a bad person. Accept that these thoughts do not reflect your true intentions or desires. ESTABLISH YOUR POWER POSITION  You are in control, not your brain. Your brain is not broken, it's actually amazing.  PERSONALIZING EVERYTHING People react and snap - there must be something wrong with me. It's not you, it's them! We create narratives and stories in our minds,