“ ‘I’m so frail’ is an automatic thought,” says Carolyn Becker, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist at Trinity University in San Antonio. “If you don’t pause to identify it as a thought, the mind perceives it as a truth or reality, which can have a devastating impact.” By identifying the statement as a thought, you put some distance between you and the statement so you’re less likely to identify with it. Plus, offering yourself something you can do about it—such as getting out a little more or seeing your friends—further acknowledges that it’s not inevitable and you can do something about it. Instead of: “I’m so fat”Say: “What am I going to wear today?” You may be tempted to reach for those frumpy sweats, but resist. “If you really want to change how you feel about your body, behave in a way that’s opposite to what you’re thinking,” Becker says. “We don’t like to feel hypocritical, so if your actions and beliefs are misaligned, it can be really uncomfortable to keep thinking something that doesn’t match how you’re acting.” When you wear clothes you love, prepare nutritious meals, and make time for a gym session, those “fat” thoughts become less salient and are likely to be replaced with thoughts of feeling healthy and active. Try our 14 Walking Workouts To Boost Energy for easy ways to be more active.Instead of “I’m so tired”Say: “Why am I so tired?”Phrasing the statement as a question sets your mind on a path toward problem solving, Becker says. Otherwise you’re more likely to participate in activities that perpetuate the thought. “If your answer to the question is ‘because I’ve been sitting all day,’ then you may realize that if you moved around instead of lying down you’d feel a lot better,” Becker says. “It’s often easier to shift your behavior first, such as taking a walk or going to bed earlier.” More From Prevention: 7 Ways To Live Longer
