Rebel Against Your Mind: Flip the Thought That’s Dragging You Down
Replacing one thought might seem small, but it creates a ripple effect. Over time, you’ll notice you’re kinder to yourself, more confident, and better equipped to handle challenges.
Your thoughts are more powerful than you might think. They shape how you see the world, how you feel, and even how you act. But let’s be honest - most of us have negative thoughts running through our heads, I know I have. These thoughts can hold us back, increase stress, and make us feel stuck. The good news? You can change them, one thought at a time.
Here’s the challenge: Just flip one negative thought into a positive one over the course of a week. That’s it. Start small and see how this simple shift can make a big difference. Let’s walk through some examples to help you get started.
Negative Thought:
"I’m such a failure; I can’t do anything right."
Flip It:
"I am powerful, my thoughts create my reality and I affirm that Day-by-day, in every way, I am better and better."
Why it works: This reminds you that failure isn’t who you are, it's a part of everyone's experience. Mistakes and setbacks are part of the journey, not the end of the road.
Negative Thought:
"I’ll never be as successful as them."
Flip It:
"I am on my perfect path to success, I know and affirm All of the goodness, all of the abundance of the universe flows into my life on a daily basis!"
Why it works: Comparing yourself to others is a fast track to feeling bad. Focus on your own path instead.
Negative Thought:
"I don’t have time to take care of myself."
Flip It:
"Nothing is more important than my self care - my ability to care for others increases as I become more whole, healthy and complete"
Why it works: Prioritizing yourself even in small ways can improve your mood and energy.
Negative Thought:
"I’m not good at this, so I should just give up."
Flip It:
"Nothing can stop me with daily practice - I can be, do and have anything I desire."
Why it works: Remind yourself that skills are built over time, not overnight.
Shifting the mindset from "I can’t do this" to "I can improve with practice" transforms the way you approach challenges. Growth happens through effort, and every small improvement adds up to big progress over time!
Negative Thought:
"Nothing ever goes right for me."
Flip It:
"My life is unfolding with absolute perfection - Obstacles are temporary, the universe (God, power, love - whatever works for you) is on my side."
Why it works: Focusing on past wins builds confidence that you can handle what’s ahead.
Why this Negative thought is so Harmful:
- Creates a Defeatist Mindset:
This thought traps you in a cycle of hopelessness, making it harder to see opportunities or solutions.
- Blinds You to Positives:
It causes you to overlook the good things that do happen, focusing only on the negatives.
- Increases Stress and Anxiety:
Constant negativity can lead to feelings of overwhelm and despair, affecting mental and physical health.
- Pushes People Away:
A persistently negative outlook can make it hard for others to support you or stay close.
- Prevents Action:
If you believe nothing will improve, you’re less likely to take steps to change your situation.
Negative Thought:
"I always screw things up."
Flip It:
"I am thoughtful and deliberate in my actions which result in harmony and success in my life."
Why it works: Be kind to yourself. No one gets it right 100% of the time. Claim what you want!
Negative Thought:
"I’m too old/young to try this."
Flip It:
"It’s never too late or too early to go after what I want - my timing is always perfect"
Why it works: Age is just a number. What really matters is your determination.
It's never too late to start. At age 65, Colonel Sanders turned rejection into success, selling his chicken recipe door-to-door, planting the seeds that turned KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) into a global empire. Your best days are still be ahead!
Negative Thought:
"I don’t have the talent for this."
Flip It:
"I am constantly learning and growing, developing the mental attitude and skills to achieve my desires."
Why it works: Talent is often overrated - positive thinking, hard work and consistency win every time.
Negative Thought:
"Nobody likes me."
Flip It:
"I’m building strong, meaningful relationships."
Why it works: Focus on what you can control - putting effort into connections instead of dwelling on doubts.
Negative Thought:
"I’m stuck, and I’ll never get out of this situation."
Flip It:
"This too shall pass - I’m taking small steps daily, to brighter future."
Why it works: Progress, even tiny steps, leads to big changes over time.
Small Actions, Big Changes: Lessons from the USS Enterprise
When I served as the Leading Petty Officer for the Navigation Department aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, I learned something incredible about the power of small actions. Navigating a ship that size taught me a valuable lesson: even the smallest change can lead to a massive difference over time.
Picture this: the USS Enterprise is over 1,100 feet long and weighs nearly 95,000 tons. It's like steering a small city through the ocean. If we adjusted the ship’s course by just one degree—a tiny shift that might seem insignificant—over time, it could take us to a completely different destination, thousands of miles away.
This principle applies to your life, too. Small changes, like deciding to take one positive action each day, can completely transform where you end up. For example:
- Spending five minutes a day practicing a skill adds up to over 30 hours in a year.
- Choosing to replace one negative thought with a positive one can reshape your mindset over time.
- Taking a single small step toward a goal, like reading one chapter of a book or walking around the block, can create momentum for bigger achievements.
Just like steering a ship, you might not see the results of these small actions right away. But over time, they compound. That one degree of change in your direction can lead you to a life filled with new opportunities, achievements, and experiences you never thought possible.
So, ask yourself: what’s one small change you can make today? Steer your life just one degree in a better direction, and let time show you how far it can take you.
Why Start with One Thought?
Changing your mindset can feel overwhelming, so don’t try to fix everything at once. Start small. Focus on flipping one thought and practice it consistently for a week. Write it down. Repeat it to yourself. Catch the negative thought when it pops up, and replace it with your positive version.
How to Make This Stick
- Write It Down
Choose your negative thought and its positive replacement. Keep it somewhere visible - your phone, a sticky note, or even your mirror. - Catch Yourself
When the negative thought sneaks in, stop and flip it. You might not catch it every time, but that’s okay. Practice makes progress. - Celebrate the Wins
When you catch yourself flipping the thought, give yourself a little cheer. Recognize that you’re retraining your brain for the better.
The Ripple Effect
Replacing one thought might seem small, but it creates a ripple effect. Over time, you’ll notice you’re kinder to yourself, more confident, and better equipped to handle challenges. Once you’ve mastered one thought, move on to another. Keep building the habit until positivity becomes your default setting.
Remember: You have the power to change your mind - and when you change your mind, you change your life. Let’s flip the script and start fresh. Are you ready?
