How to Banish Negativity
When I was a kid, “negativity breeds negativity” was a common phrase my mother would say to help me when I felt sad, angry, or stressed. Of course, like all lessons our mothers try to teach us, I didn’t understand what she meant until I got older. Basically, she was saying the more you focus on your negative thoughts, the more negative energy you’ll bring to you, making those thoughts bigger and bigger. Eventually, those thoughts will get out of control and cause some major pain.
Every time she said it to me, though, it just made me more upset. I can’t control my own emotions! I can’t help how I react! Now, as an adult, I have realized how incorrect that is. The only power we have to control anything in this world is to control ourselves. What happens is uncontrollable, how you react to it is up to you. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s hard. The pain of that negative energy that grows and grows like weeds, the frustration of trying to stop them at the root but having no clue how. It can be almost impossible to even fathom the idea that you have control over your own outlook.
I firmly believe that all that frustration and pain can be avoided, but, like any new skill, it takes a lot of practice and patience. You’re not gonna stop having panic attacks overnight, or suddenly the happiest person on the planet, but changing your mindset is a powerful thing that can truly change your life.
So, how do you start? First things first, purify your space Now, this space could be your bedroom, your alter, or even just inside your mind. Fear not, any space can be cleansed with the right intentions and supplies.
Burning sage sticks or incense is the most well-known way to cleanse a space and banish negative energies, but it’s not the only herb you could use. Resins like frankincense and myrrh have been used to purify and protect holy spaces for centuries. However, I would specifically get incense for these as resins are very difficult to burn.
If you’re more into the idea of smudging, which is basically a more ceremonious way of burning dried herbs, there are way more options than just sage. Juniper is great for creating “safe spaces” from anxiety and hitting that reset button on your area. Cedar, rosemary, and mugwort are also all well known for driving out those negative energies and cleaning up after them to make room for optimism. You can even combine different herbs for a more powerful or more specific cleanse. If you can’t find or make your own smudge sticks, you can always use the incense version. They work just as well.
So, you open the windows in that space, cleanse the air, and start to push those negative energies out of your space. So, you’re done, right? Well, not really. Sure, you used some of your supplies, but did you set those intentions?
The intention is so important! It’s the root of everything. What you have going on in your mind is just as important as what you physically have on you. In fact, none of this can work if you just allow the negativity to keep breeding.
In this case, your intentions should have to do with getting rid of the negative, but also letting in positivity. The best way to unlearn a bad habit is to replace it with a good one. Once you get a taste of how sweet optimism is, why would you ever allow yourself to breed bitter negativity on purpose?
You can set intentions by writing them down and saying them out loud like a spell, a prayer, affirmation, mantra, etc. Whatever you want to call it, you want to make sure it’s clear and concise. It has to make sense to you for it to work for you. Take your time. Don’t worry too much about it, that’s what we’re trying to avoid! All you need to do is a brain dump, brainstorm, and boom! You’ll find the perfect set of intentions to help you along your way.
Of course, this isn’t a one-and-done situation. Just cos you light some herbs and say what you want doesn’t mean you’re magically better. Like I said before, it’s all a learned skill. So, once you have those intentions down, make sure you never forget them, this way they can continue to work. Don’t just write it once, write it a million times! Write it another way or write a list. Say it! When you wake up, when you go to bed, post those intentions to your bathroom mirror and say them every time you check your reflection. Keep at it and keep strong!
Once you’ve found a way of setting intentions that work for you and you’re comfortable with, it’s time to apply them. Now, for some people, this next tip isn’t necessary, but in my opinion, this step is the most fun! Let’s face it, doing the same herbs and intentions every time can get tiresome, making you doubt and sow the seeds of negativity again. If you want positivity to bloom, you must care for what you’ve planted.
So, try to find out what other things like other herbs, crystals, foods, or even colors correspond with what you’re after and use those things to boost your intentions. For example, are you trying to clear out those irrational fears and anxieties? Black tourmaline, amethyst, and labradorite are the perfect combo to put in your pocket or under your pillow at night. Maybe you’re just far too wound up while trying to meditate and relax, try some herbal tea with honey or cinnamon, as both are recognized to boost wellness. Make sure to pay attention to which way you’re stirring while setting those intentions, too, because stirring clockwise brings energies to you whereas counterclockwise banishes energies. The more you know, right?
You get the opportunity to not only retrain your brain but learn new things! Doing your research and finding out exactly what works for you and your needs is honestly fun and makes this whole endeavor less of a chore and more like a project! It can also help elevate the stress of having to do everything yourself because now you’re allowing your tools to give you their power as well.
For centuries, human beings have used the energies found around them as well as within themselves. Everything in this world holds its own meaning and power, especially the soul. So, take good care of yourself! Remember, if negativity breeds negativity, then with these steps, we can stop those negative energies in their tracks and bloom positivity instead!