How to Stop Negative Thinking

Negative thinking is an unmanaged brain thinking thoughts about you. 

Left to its own devices, it does its best to protect you against your clearly insane goals in which so many things can go wrong.

We think we can stop the negativity if we ignore it or become faster runners (because they must feel good about themselves).

So we double up on action. We run harder against the negativity and add music to drown it out but the thinking is still there, reminding you there’s so much to fear, so much wrong, and so much to worry about. 

There’s a better way.

Love the ultrarunner you are right now - even as you’re working to get better at ultras.

The work I’ve done on this over the two decades I’ve been running ultras is a big reason I’ve been so successful, and here are some practices you can borrow:

I respect my run at a race and always give my best.

I take my dreams seriously, like divine assignments. They weren’t given to me to maybe do someday. I believe I have the ability to make them happen.

I commit to training now because it’ll provide the best experience on the way to the finish line.

I show up for training runs because I committed, and I keep my promises to myself. 

I ask questions and learn from experts but always make my own decisions and trust my own answers, because I am the expert on me.

I care how I think about and talk to my body. It’s not an anonymous machine or a problem to be solved. It’s my teammate, and my partner in crime in this playground called ultrarunning. 

I care how I talk to myself. If it’s not the way I’d talk to the person I love most in the world, I rewind and say it with love instead.

I became my best company. I delight, amuse, and entertain myself.

And I celebrate myself. Every day, I tell myself I’m proud of myself for something. 

Over time, I naturally lost interest in negative thinking. It still comes up but it’s boring, like a friend from high school still complaining about that one teacher - you outgrow it.

You’ll also find training gets easier and less stressful.

You run stronger and have more fun in races.

And it also helps you love other humans.

But in case you're thinking, “Sounds nice but I need mental toughness for my race,” I promise you…love is tough. 

You can do things for love you couldn’t out of fear. And love will get you further past your limits than forcing yourself ever will. Love is strong.

If the list above seems daunting, here’s a simple way to start loving the ultrarunner you are - list ten things you love about your ability, the way you do things, and how you approach training and races. When you’re done, post it somewhere you can see before you go for a run.

Ultrarunners are quick to share their love trail running, ultrarunners, the community, and races.

It’s time you included yourself in that list.

If you want to do that, I can help.

Email me and we’ll talk how that can work for you.