{"id":77213,"date":"2022-08-26T17:41:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T21:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=77213"},"modified":"2022-09-08T11:22:57","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T15:22:57","slug":"how-to-deal-with-negative-emotions-practice-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-negative-emotions-practice-gratitude\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Deal With Negative Emotions: Practice Gratitude"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you tend to hold on to negative emotions? How can you lessen the pull of negative feelings and take control of your emotional state? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more you focus on negative emotions, the less mental bandwidth you have to focus on important things. Negative emotions can be hard to escape, but there are plenty of things you can do to lessen their hold on you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how to deal with negative emotions<\/a>, according to Greg McKeown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Free Yourself of Emotional Burdens<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

McKeown claims that your cognitive tendencies can strongly impact your ability to work effortlessly. If you wish to get the most out of your time and energy, learn to let go of negative emotions such as fear and anger and express gratitude as much as possible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you face adversity or perceive injustices in the world, it\u2019s easy to fall into a cycle of complaints, regrets, and other negative thoughts. To counteract this, McKeown recommends being grateful for the things you have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gratitude not only prevents negative emotions from arising but also promotes positive side effects, such as creativity and social connection. When you find yourself complaining, try to replace that complaint with something you\u2019re grateful for. Eventually, this practice will help you foster a more positive attitude toward the world around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ways to Counteract Negative Emotions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

McKeown isn\u2019t the first to recognize the influence negativity has on our mental and physical well-being. In The Chimp Paradox<\/em><\/a>, Steve Peters maintains that chronic stress<\/a>, which can lead to depression, anxiety, fatigue, and a weakened immune system, is often caused by negative habits of thought. Without realizing it, people exacerbate their problems, make excuses, and even let their anxiety invent entirely new problems<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to McKeown\u2019s strategy of practicing gratitude<\/a>, try Norman Vincent Peale\u2019s advice<\/a> on how to deal with negative emotions in The Power of Positive Thinking<\/em><\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n