Teen Breathe Magazine

‘I can’t do anything right!’ How many times do you have that thought? Once in a blue moon, now and then, all the time? It’s a common enough feeling, and usually happens when you’ve made a mistake, you think you’re failing at something or someone has criticised you. And it’s almost always wrong.
That’s because when you think to yourself, ‘ I can’t do anything right’, it’s pretty likely that you’re stuck in a negative thinking pattern without even realising it. Turns out we all have this weird wiring that makes bad experiences stick in our brains, while good ones just slide on past. If you’re wondering if that’s the reason you can’t help focusing on the one tiny negative comment in the midst of a ton of positive feedback, then the answer is yes!
The good news is, if you can notice when it’s happening, there’s a simple way to shift your mood. Use your body to boost your brain. In the same way that your mind can impact your body – when you’re scared, for example, your heart might race – your body can affect your mind. So, the next time you get a test back and find out you’ve done worse than you hoped? Try a little fake smile. Give someone a hug. Or throw your head back and laugh. Anything that makes your body feel good could amp up the positive vibes in your head. Time to get dancing!