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Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern.
Friday Fix: Episode 185
Sometimes our thoughts are extremely negative. In those instances, it’s important to reframe those thoughts with more realistic ways of thinking.
But sometimes our negative thoughts aren’t exaggerated. They’re a realistic portrayal of just how difficult life is.
No matter how difficult your circumstances might be, there may also be some positive things happening, but you might not be noticing them.
When your thoughts are accurate, reframing doesn’t work. Instead, it’s an opportunity to look for the good things going on around you—even when they’re occurring alongside some not-so-good things.
But noticing the bad, however, is easy. You might find your brain automatically focuses on the worst thing that happened or it might constantly predict negative outcomes.
When life has thrown you some serious curveballs or your mental health is declining, it’s tough to see the positive things going on around you.
Those kinds of thoughts affect how you feel and how you behave. If you aren’t careful, your thoughts can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to look for the good in life.
It’s important to note though, that looking for the good isn’t the same as toxic positivity. So, in today’s episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, I explain how to look for the good in life in a healthy way.
More About the Podcast
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Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too.
If You Liked This Episode You Might Also Like These Episodes:
Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors. Thank you.
For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here.
Download the Transcript
Links and Resources
Follow Amy Morin on Instagram
Check out Amy’s books on mental strength
Friday Fix: Is Looking on the Bright Side Actually Good for Your Mental Health?
Stop the Toxic Positivity With Bestselling Author Nora McInerny
How to Be Sad With Bestselling Author Helen Russell
