MAKE AFFIRMATIONS

Another way to tackle seemingly irrational beliefs, fears or thoughts is by writing affirmations.

Jotting down two or three positive lines that contradict your negative thoughts – “I deserve to have a successful career because I am good at what I do,” perhaps – and then reading them back to yourself before bed subconsciously plants these beliefs into your brain.

“An affirmation can work as it has the ability to programme your mind into believing the stated concept,” noted Ronald Alexander, director of California’s OpenMind Training Institute, in an essay for the respected journal Psychology Today . “This is because the mind doesn’t know the difference between what is real or fantasy.

“Therefore, affirmations can be a powerful tool to help you change your mood, state of mind, and manifest the change you desire in your life.” Becoming more decisive is another way to spike some of those more needless 50,000 thoughts charging round your brain.

Any time you think a thought based on a could-have, would-have or should-have sentiment, kill it.

“In some ways, having ‘if only’ thoughts are natural and healthy,” says José. “If you never reconsidered or re-evaluated certain behaviour or situations you wouldn’t grow or develop as a person.

“But it’s when these speculations start to overwhelm you that you need to take stock. Evaluate your decisions, certainly. But be happy with the action you took – or at least with the reasons for taking that action – and move on.”

In short, once you make up your mind, stick to it. If you decide later that a course of action wasn’t right for you then learn for next time. But do not allow yourself to keep dwelling on what might have been.