Consistent negative thinking can damage your self-esteem and relationships. And while you’ll never completely eliminate them, there is one neat trick you can use to make yourself more aware of your own negative thought patterns and nip them in the bud. The trick involves carrying around a spoon with you wherever you go. A teaspoon, to be more specific. And before you close this article in incredulity, let me explain how the trick works.You are going to start by carrying around your teaspoon in your left or right pocket. And whenever you catch yourself forming a negative thought; “I bet my boss totally hates me!”, “I’m such a failure, I’ll never be able to pass that exam!” etc. you will immediately take the teaspoon and transfer it into your other pocket.Simple, right? You may be scratching your head right now and wondering how this will help you with negative thinking, and maybe whether it is worth explaining why exactly you have a teaspoon in your pocket (tip: avoid this by being as discreet as possible with this trick). The teaspoon trick is actually a form of mindfulness. Research[1] has shown how mindfulness can help break negative thought patterns by increasing self-awareness of such negative thoughts. And while mindfulness is often associated with meditation, the teaspoon trick works in a similar manner by making you aware of your own negative thoughts, only in this case it uses a physical object as a reminder. The teaspoon itself just a normal object that is noticeable by standing out from the rest of your everyday normal wear. Feel free to substitute it; just make sure it’s something that’s novel and will stand out to you. So if you find yourself constantly plagued by negative thinking, give this trick a try and begin the journey to being a more positive person today!
