Dead ant, dead ant...

This may be an oldie but it's still a goodie!

So, let's kill some ants! Or in our case some ANTs...Automatic Negative Thoughts.

From Dr. Daniel Amen, which is where I first heard the term several years ago:

It’s possible to think positively if you KILL YOUR ANTS!

We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with fear and bad news that triggers our automatic negative thinking—ANTS! Need proof? Just turn on the TV or cruise through the net. Doom and gloom stories dominate the headlines—because fear makes us pay attention.

In fact, it's been said that 87% of what we see and hear is negative!

More from Dr. Amen:

In fact, our brains are wired to focus on the negative in order to avoid things that might hurt us. Fear definitely serves a purpose, but what happens when all we seem to focus on are negative thoughts? Bad things. Take a look at these compelling facts:

• Every thought you have releases chemicals in the brain.
• Hopeful thoughts release chemicals that help you feel happy and calm.
• Negative thoughts release chemicals that make you feel stressed and sad.
• If what you bring your attention to determines how you feel and act, focusing too much on negative thoughts can lead to destructive behaviors—behaviors that can ruin your important relationships and ruin your mind.

Enough of the bad news. There is good news!

You can learn how to kill your automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and focus on the positive.

 Here's a video from the website that talks about "3 Quick Steps to Stop Negative Thinking Now!":

This ties back to the law of entropy, which is often taken to mean that disorder in the universe is increasing unless acted upon by a force.

But what does that mean? Basically, things will get worse unless something is done about it. Such as your car will breakdown if you don't take care of it. And the same with your body. If you don't try to stay healthy, you will become unhealthy. And your thoughts. If you don't try to think positive thoughts, your mind will fill with negative thoughts.

A powerful way of changing your thinking is with "I am" statements . I wrote about these a while back. Basically, you are what you tell yourself you are, whether directly or indirectly. If somebody tells you something often enough you'll start to believe it. "You're lazy". "You're stupid". "You're useless". It doesn't have to be bad though. "You're awesome". "You're beautiful". "You're smart". Now substitute "I'm" for "You're". Tell yourself that you're awesome, beautiful or smart! Make the effort to fill your mind with positive thoughts!

And kill those ANTs!

Interesting days

Today - Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, Walk On Your Wild Side Day, Bookmobile Day and Licorice Day

Tomorrow - Scrabble Day and Thomas Jefferson Day

Next Wednesday - Rice Ball Day, Garlic Day, Banana Day, Poetry And The Creative Mind Day, Hanging Out Day and Bicycle Day

May 12 - Odometer Day, International Nurses Day, Nutty Fudge Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, One Day Without Shoes Day and Limerick Day