🧭#12: Avoiding Overthinking & Social Comparison

Constructing Confidence: The Positivity Toolbox

Today, we share how to strengthen a positive mindset through AVOIDING OVERTHINKING & SOCIAL COMPARISON. This is regulating our natural inclination to ruminate over the meaning, causes, and consequences of our feelings, character, and our problems. This impacts social comparison, an act that usually prevents happiness and well-being.

Why it matters

In a time where social media seems to dominate so much of how we function in the world, it’s hard to escape the comparison game. It can be an automatic downward spiral leading us to easily get stuck in negative emotions and feelings of inferiority which can escalate into depression and anxiety. It’s critical to learn to stop thoughts that are not helpful to us in their tracks.

How it works

Research shows that when we’re able to exercise control over thoughts that don’t serve us, it promotes greater well-being and enhanced emotional regulation. Limiting our automatic negative thoughts allows room for more positive emotions to take their place. One place to start is learning how to focus on ourselves.

What you can do next

Click to download this chapter of The Positivity Toolbox, which includes a summary, two hands-on activities for you and your children to do together, plus a series of discussion questions to encourage lifelong behaviors.