Controlling Negative Emotions With The 'Switch ON/OFF' Technique

I want to share with you something I first learnt when I practiced Kung Fu in my younger years. We used to do this exercise to 'switch on' when there was danger and to 'switch off ' when it was over with. What we had to do was stand completely still and then 'switch on' by immediately shifting our mindset into fight mode, ready to go. Once in this mode we would do our technique and then we had to 'switch off' back to calm mode and straight away talk to the person beside us about something completely opposite. We would do this in every class until it became natural to do so.

Over time I have expanded on this technique to help control negative emotions, for example switching from sad to happy. What I am about to show you is very effective especially for those times when you become 'stuck' or are in a 'rut' where you can't stop thinking about a particular problem. When you are having one of these days, find a place away from everyone and try doing this...

Step 1. Step back for a second and take a good think about what is troubling you. I want you to really think about it and bring it to the forefront of your mind. Do this intensely for 30 seconds.

Step 2. Now with this negative thought in your mind, I want you to just jump up and scream out aloud. The idea is to put your whole body into it, pretending like you are doing a celebration, and most importantly - think about something that makes you very happy.

Step 3. Now sit back down again and try to think about that negative thought again. It may seem less influential now, but still try to think about whatever it is that is troubling you for another 30 seconds or so again.

Step 4. Now jump back up again and scream aloud, this time put even more effort into it and think about that same happy thought again.

Step 5. Just keep repeating this, each time focusing less on your troubling thought and then each time jumping up and screaming louder. I usually do it 4 or 5 times.

It may sound really simple, and even a bit strange, but I promise that if you practice this properly, it will really help get you out of a stuck negative emotion or mood. Practice this everyday and soon enough you will be able to more easily create your own switches within your mind where you won’t get stuck any more. This helps view everything on a more positive level instead of negative. Just like hypnosis, it is all about re-training your mind to work in more positive ways for your own wellbeing. You can pick one issue at a time and resolve them using this technique.

I helped a friend of mine with this technique once. He played Rugby League for Australia and I saw in our newspaper here that he was having a 'bad patch', meaning his form was not great and the papers were complaining as they do. He was having some troubles with expectation, pressure and fear which was affecting his game. So I called him up and asked him if I could help with anything. He was actually about to go to a game that very moment so he popped around on his way there and I showed him how to use this technique. He did it, left, and went to the game and played really great that day. He rang me straight after the game and said this technique was awesome. He still uses it to this day just before a game to switch on.

It really is a very simple yet very powerful way to control your emotions when things are not going so good. Try it for your self...