Say goodbye to ANTS!

Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!

The month of May presents an opportunity to explore strategies that promote mental wellness through support and education. One key stepping stone to growing in your emotional and psychological wellness is practicing mindfulness. 

Everyone falls into the trap of ANTS: Automatic Negative Thoughts.

This term describes cynical thinking about oneself and others that can consume our minds.

• I’ll never be able to change

• My feelings do not matter to anyone.

• Life is never on my side, so why even try? 

• I don’t deserve to take time for myself. 

These thought patterns are destructive and damaging to our psyche. Mindfulness is the complete opposite! This is a way we can train our minds to counteract negative thoughts and 

shift to more positive thoughts in the moment! 

Let’s practice this technique; take a slow deep  breath, close your eyes (if you’re comfortable doing so), and enter a non-judgmental space full of compassion, forgiveness, and truth. Now 

here’s a list of encouraging affirmations you can say aloud, write down, or memorize to repeat:

“I am worthy of love and kindness.”

“My feelings are valid, but they don’t control my future.”

“I have overcome hard things before, and I can again.”

“I give myself permission to rest and heal.”

“I am learning to be gentle with myself.”

Although the “ANTS” may be out of our control, we can respond with mindful self compassion and positive affirmation. Good job!