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Method 2: Having a Positive Outlook
1. Consider what you learned from the event
You can learn something even from the most horrible experience, although it might take you a rather long time to realize it. If someday you can bring yourself to look back at the situation and see the wisdom you gained from it, your bad memory will likely lose some of its sting. Every cloud has a silver lining – you just have to come to realize it. Negative experiences are an inevitable part of life. Difficult experiences make you stronger and make you appreciate the more pleasurable moments. Without feeling bad, you wouldn’t be able to appreciate feeling good. Furthermore, you should always count your blessings and be thankful for what you have in the present moment.
2. Form happy new memories
Bad memories tend to fade away with time, but you can help to speed up the process by living as fully as you can and creating positive new memories to fill your mind with. Spend more time doing the things that you enjoy, and in the company of those that make you happy. The more positive memories you can make, the less significant the negative ones become. Try going to places you’ve never been before so that you can have brand-new experiences wholly untainted by the past. Travel to a new city, or be a tourist in your own. If traveling isn’t for you, try changing up your routine in some other way. Try a new restaurant, or invite all your friends over for a dinner party.
3. Keep yourself busy
A full schedule and a stimulated mind equal less time to dwell on negative thoughts. Make it a point to go out with more friends if you tend to spend a lot of time by yourself, or visit your family more often. Read a good book, or pick up a new hobby. Time spent sitting around with nothing to do makes it more likely that you’ll dwell on bad memories. Physical activity is always good to consider, so take up something new, such as soccer or kickboxing. You can also try walking a certain number of miles each day, or even yoga. Another thing to consider is creativity – pouring your energy into creating something such as a painting, writing a song or finishing a DIY project will restrict your time for thinking about bad memories. Last but not least, volunteering is a great way of helping others while taking your mind off of your own problems.
4. Avoid alcohol and drugs
Mind-altering substances just have the tendency to make everything worse, especially if you’re in a depressed or anxious state. Alcohol can increase depression, irritability, and anxiety, as can drugs. Using alcohol and drugs to forget bad memories often leads to addiction, so you should seek help now if this is already a behavioral pattern for you. Other forms of escapism, such as gambling or overeating, could also be detrimental to your health, and thus should be avoided. Acknowledging such behaviors is important
5. Make your health a priority
Being consumed with negative thoughts can make it difficult to take good care of yourself, but if your body is in a good state of health, it can have a big effect on the way you think. Eat nutritious food, get plenty of sleep and work out a few times a week to keep your bad memories at bay.
