Breaking the Cycle of Negative Thoughts: How Your Inner Dialogue Shapes Your Health

What if the most powerful wellness tool isn't in your kitchen or gym bag, but between your ears? Dive into the fascinating science of how our thoughts shape our physical health and wellbeing. 

The numbers are shocking: we have up to 60,000 thoughts daily, with a staggering 80% being negative and 95% repetitive. That's right—we're not just thinking negative thoughts; we're thinking the same negative thoughts on repeat like a broken record. This mental pattern doesn't just stay in our heads—it shows up in our bodies, with the CDC reporting that up to 90% of doctor visits stem from stress-related issues. From high blood pressure to weakened immunity, that internal dialogue is literally making us sick.

But here's the empowering part: you can rewrite this story. This episode offers practical, science-backed strategies for breaking the negative thought cycle without falling into toxic positivity. Learn how to replace disempowering thoughts with strengthening ones, how to acknowledge negative thoughts without letting them "set up camp," and why treating your mind like valuable real estate (not a trash bin) might be the healthiest choice you make today.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by negative self-talk or simply want to optimize your mental wellness routine, this episode provides the perfect blend of motivation and actionable steps. Ready to transform your thoughts and, by extension, your health? Pour something in your glass that makes you happy, and let's talk about making your inner dialogue work for you, not against you. Your body—and your wine glass—will thank you for it.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Spandex and Wine
• 0:52 Today's Affirmation
• 1:39 The Shocking Stats on Negative Thoughts
• 3:30 Rewriting Your Thought Patterns
• 5:47 Episode Wrap and Call to Action

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hello and welcome to the Spandex and Wine podcast. I'm your host, robin Hackney, and I'm so happy that you're here. This podcast is a place for conversations about balancing a healthy lifestyle and being happy more specifically, happy hour. Together we'll explore all things wellness and wine. I hope you learn a little, laugh a lot and, along the way, know you're not alone on this balanced wellness journey. Ready to jump in? Pour something in your glass that makes you happy, because it's time for Spandex and Wine. Hey friends, welcome back to the Spandex and Wine podcast, the podcast where we stretch life's topics from sweat to Sauvignon Blanc and everything in between. I'm Robin, your host, your health cheerleader and the woman reminding you that mindset matters, even when you're wearing yoga pants and drinking a cab.

Speaker 1: 0:52

So today we are talking about something that hits all of us negative thoughts. So I want to start first, though, with our affirmations. We started doing those every Tuesday. I will read it to you, I'll give you a chance to say it to yourself, or out loud, rather, and we'll do that three times, and then we'll move on to the meat of our episode today. So here is your affirmation my thoughts create my reality, so I choose peace, joy and strength. My thoughts create my reality, so I choose peace, joy and strength. My thoughts create my reality, so I choose peace, joy and strength. Okay, so now let's jump in and I want to talk some numbers and they might shock you and maybe it'll be motivating to you, I don't know, I'll let you choose.

Speaker 1: 1:56

So according to the national science foundation and several other psychology studies, the average person has between 12 000 to 60 000 thoughts per day. Not really a shock there, but guess what percentage of those are negative? 80% of those thoughts are negative and 95% of those are repetitive. So we're not just thinking negative thoughts, we are thinking the same negative thoughts on repeat, just like a broken record playing in our brains all day long. So let me ask you this Would you hang out with someone who spoke to you like your inner critic does? I don't think so. You would not do that. And here's the kicker those thoughts don't just live in your head, they show up in your body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that up to 90% of doctor visits are stress-related, and you know what causes stress more than deadlines or screaming kids it's our internal dialogue. So chronic stress, which is often fueled by negative thinking has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, digestive issues, autoimmune disorders, depression and anxiety, poor sleep, a weakened immune system, and I'm sure some of those sound familiar. And you guys, this isn't some like woo, woo connection. This is science. Negative thoughts lead to stress, which leads to inflammation, which leads to illness.

Speaker 1: 3:30

So here's a good part, though you don't have to live on that negative loop. You can rewrite your story. It doesn't have to be big and it doesn't have to be loud. It can just start with small movements. So maybe you could replace I'm not doing enough with. I'm doing my best today. You can replace I can't keep up with. I'm building strength every day. You can replace what if I fail? With what if I fly? I like that one.

Speaker 1: 4:02

So changing your thoughts, it's free and it's powerful, and it might just be the healthiest thing you do all day long. Now look, I'm not saying you need to be a ray of sunshine 24-7. If you remember several episodes back when I was talking about toxic positivity, we don't want that either. But let's be honest living in a real world is what we all do. So I still roll my eyes at someone that cuts me off in traffic.

Speaker 1: 4:32

I still doubt myself before hitting publish on a podcast episode, but I don't let those thoughts set up camp and move in. Instead, I kick them out and I open the door to better ones. So here's your reminder I kick them out and I open the door to better ones. So here's your reminder. Your mind is not a trash bin, so stop letting garbage thoughts pile up there. Go ahead and take out that trash, make room for some grace, some hope and maybe a glass of wine while you're at it. And if you need help shifting that mindset through movement, nutrition, community or even the supplements that I talk about all the time I've got you, send me a message, you guys. That's why I'm here, that's why I do this. I am so passionate about it and I want to help you. So please, please, reach out to me. Or, if you know someone else that needs a little bit of help or needs a nudge, please share this episode. It's a short one that they can get through quickly and you helping someone else is going to feel so good. So until next time, stretch your body, nourish your soul and rewrite those thoughts like your life depends on it, because it kind of does All right. Cheers, friends. Thank you for listening.

Speaker 1: 5:52

If you're enjoying this podcast, be sure to follow Spandex and Wine so you don't miss an episode. To do this, just go to the podcast and click subscribe or follow. Wherever you're listening, look for the plus sign or follow button. This is one of the best things that you can do for the podcast. If you'd also be willing to give a five-star review, that would be amazing and much appreciated. Lastly, please share an episode with a friend or five to keep the love going, and join the Spandex and Wine community in our private Facebook group by searching Spandex Wine. Feel free to reach out to me at any time by emailing info at spandexandwinecom or text me at 913-392-2877. I appreciate you. Thank you.