How to Replace Unhelpful Thoughts with Helpful Ones for Success

Every day, thousands of thoughts run through our minds, shaping how we see the world, interact with others, and pursue our goals. According to scientists, we have around 60,000 thoughts per day. These thoughts stem from our past experiences, upbringing, and even societal pressures. They can be helpful, propelling us toward success, or unhelpful, holding us back with fear and doubt.

If you’re looking to improve your mindset and take control of your goals, understanding how to manage these thoughts is key. Here’s how you can identify helpful thoughts, replace unhelpful ones, and harness the power of your mind for success.

What Are Helpful Thoughts?

Helpful thoughts are those that push you toward your goals, keeping you balanced and emotionally grounded. These thoughts provide the mental support you need to tackle challenges, take risks, and move forward. By fostering helpful thoughts, you increase your resilience and ability to overcome obstacles.

For example, if you’re about to give a presentation, you might think, “It’s nerve-wracking, but I can do it,” or “Now or never!” These thoughts help you stay calm, confident, and focused, enabling you to perform well in high-pressure situations.

If you can train your mind to replace unhelpful thoughts with helpful ones, you’ll find it easier to stay motivated and take action toward achieving your goals. Over time, your helpful thoughts will create a positive feedback loop that encourages even more progress.

Examples of Helpful Thoughts

Here are some examples of helpful thoughts you can use in different situations:

Helpful Thoughts for Recruiting Customers:

• “If I don’t reach out, someone else will.”
• “I can genuinely help them save money with my product.”

Helpful Thoughts for Recruiting Representatives:

• “What’s the worst that can happen if I ask them to join?”
• “Some will say yes, some will say no—that’s just part of the process.”

Helpful Thoughts for Mindset:

• “Every action I take helps me grow personally.”
• “Mistakes are learning experiences that get me closer to my goal.”

Helpful Thoughts for Public Speaking:

• “I’m the one standing here—no one else can do this better than me right now.”
• “I have nothing to lose, only to gain.”
• “If someone else can do it better, they’re welcome to take my place!”

By repeating these helpful thoughts in your mind, you can create the positive emotions needed to take action and build confidence. As you overcome obstacles and achieve small victories, these thoughts will solidify as part of your mindset.

What Are Unhelpful Thoughts?

Unhelpful thoughts are those that derail your progress by fostering fear, doubt, or insecurity. They push you away from your goals, causing you to hesitate or avoid taking action. Often rooted in past negative experiences, unhelpful thoughts create mental blocks that prevent you from reaching your full potential.

A key characteristic of unhelpful thoughts is that they are often unrealistic. For example, thoughts like “I always fail” or “They’ll never say yes” are rooted in exaggeration, not fact. These kinds of thoughts lead to a cycle of avoidance, where your fears become self-fulfilling prophecies.

While it’s normal to experience both helpful and unhelpful thoughts, a mindset dominated by unhelpful thoughts will lead to self-doubt and inaction. If you want to succeed, it’s essential to recognize and shift these unhelpful patterns.

Examples of Unhelpful Thoughts

Here are some examples of unhelpful thoughts that can hold you back:

Unhelpful Thoughts When Finding Customers:

• “They’ll probably reject me.”
• “What if they don’t buy? It’ll be embarrassing.”
• “If they don’t like the product, they’ll be angry with me.”

Unhelpful Thoughts When Recruiting Representatives:

• “What if they think I’m trying to scam them?”
• “This is never going to work out for me.”

Unhelpful Thoughts in General:

• “I’m a failure; I can’t do anything right.”
• “I always have bad luck—nothing ever works for me.”
• “Why can’t I be as successful as they are?”

Unhelpful Thoughts for Public Speaking:

• “I feel like I’m exposed and vulnerable in front of the audience.”
• “What if I forget what to say? It’ll ruin everything.”
• “Everyone is going to laugh at me.”

These unhelpful thoughts often stem from fear—fear of rejection, fear of failure, or fear of judgment. The key is recognizing that these thoughts aren’t based on reality. By challenging and reframing them, you can remove the mental barriers they create.

Shifting from Unhelpful to Helpful Thoughts

To replace unhelpful thoughts with helpful ones, you need to first become aware of the negative self-talk that’s happening in your mind. Once you identify these unhelpful thoughts, ask yourself whether they are based on facts or just your emotions running wild.

Here are steps to shift your thinking:

1. Identify the Unhelpful Thought: Recognize when you’re having a thought that’s blocking your progress. For example, “They’ll never buy from me.”
2. Challenge the Thought: Ask yourself if this thought is based on facts. Is it true that no one will buy from you, or is it just fear talking?
3. Replace with a Helpful Thought: Reframe the negative thought into a positive one. For instance, replace “They’ll never buy from me” with “Some will say yes, some will say no, but I’m getting closer to a yes.”
4. Repeat: Continuously repeat the helpful thought in your mind. This will help reinforce positive thinking and create new mental habits.
5. Take Action: Once you’ve reframed the unhelpful thought, act on it. The more you push yourself to take action, the more proof you’ll gather that the helpful thought is valid.

The Power of Mindset in Achieving Success

Whether you’re recruiting customers, building your team, or simply working toward a personal goal, the thoughts you have will shape your actions. By focusing on helpful thoughts, you can move past fear and doubt and take consistent action toward success.

It’s not about eliminating all negative thoughts—that’s impossible. Instead, it’s about creating a balance where your helpful thoughts outweigh the unhelpful ones. With practice, you can train your brain to naturally default to positive, productive thinking that pushes you closer to your goals.

Final Thoughts: Harness the Power of Your Mind

Your thoughts have a direct impact on your actions, and your actions determine your success. By recognizing unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with helpful ones, you can unlock your full potential and achieve your goals. It takes practice, but the more you work on it, the easier it becomes.

Remember, success isn’t just about external actions—it starts in your mind. Shift your mindset, and the rest will follow.

By understanding the difference between helpful and unhelpful thoughts, you can take control of your mindset and steer your actions in the right direction. With practice, you’ll find it easier to overcome obstacles, push past fear, and achieve your goals in both business and life.