Stopping Your Downward Spiral

By Marty Nemko

Whether your problem is anxiety, procrastination, depression, whatever, it's usually better and worse at different times. Often, what makes things worse is momentum: one unproductive thought triggers another which triggers another, and before you know it, you're overwhelmed. The key is to stop unproductive thinking before it builds momentum--it's easy to stop a rock that's just starting to roll down a hill, but if it gains speed, it can knock you over. So, as soon as you recognize an unproductive thought, just say Stop! to yourself and think a productive thought. Sounds simplistic but it often works.