Think Positively: Sheri Staak’s Recommendation for Controlling Negative Thoughts

It’s tough being a student, especially in a foreign country. Yet, the ESL tutors want to make sure that everyone is enjoying their experiences here. It can be hard to enjoy your time as a student when your classes and just doing basic things for yourself (like buy groceries) are very hard. One way to help keep yourself focused and on track with your goals is to control your negative thoughts. Sheri Staak in her article on the topic outlines 11 ways to help us control our negative thoughts in the workplace:

1. Recognize the source of the negativity
2. Don’t be part of the problem
3. Confront without confrontation
4. Root out the reasons
5. Think positively!
6. Encourage positive behaviors
7. Steer negativity in the right direction
8. Redirect your reactions
9. Seek out a positive mentor or coach
10. Being positive isn’t being a pushover
11. Pick your battles

In this blog post, I’d like to focus on the fifth tool, “Think positively!” In her article, Staak says that people will naturally have negative thoughts, we can’t help it. Even though you may have negative thoughts, she argues that we shouldn’t dwell[1] on them. Instead of thinking negative thoughts, we should try and think positively.

One of the ways to promote positive thinking during a conversation with friends that takes a negative turn (everyone starts saying negative things about the topic) is I can say something positive about our conversation topic. By saying something positive, I can add positive energy and a positive outlook[2] on the situation.

Another way to increase the amount of positivity in our thoughts and in our surroundings is to look for the silver lining in every situation. To look for a silver lining means to look for something positive from that situation. This can be as simple as thinking your extra-long reading assignment from Reading & Vocabulary will make into you a faster reader.

Lastly, we should try to think about achieving a good grade for the difficult exams and assignments. We shouldn’t worry about making mistakes, instead we should try to do the best job we can do in that moment. After we achieve something, even if it’s a small goal, we should congratulate ourselves on accomplishing it. Celebrating our victories will help us look past the minor obstacles and problems and see the bigger picture: we are successful.

[1] dwell on/upon (something)

verb: to think or talk about (something) for a long time

There is no need to dwell on the past.

Don’t dwell upon your mistakes.

[2] outlook:
noun: (count) the way that a person thinks about things.
The book totally changed my outlook on politics.
noun: (noncount) Despite our differences in outlook, we got along together very well.