Intrusive Thoughts Are Normal: Here’s How to Navigate Them
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Hey there. If you’ve ever felt like you need to stay positive 100% of the time, let me tell you something: that’s not realistic—and it’s okay. No one is positive all the time, no matter what social media or self-help gurus might lead you to believe. We all have moments, hours, even days when intrusive thoughts and tough emotions take over. That’s part of being human.
In this episode of The Daryl Perry Podcast, I dive into the idea that positivity isn’t about being in a great mindset all the time. Instead, it’s about learning how to navigate those moments when your mindset isn’t where you want it to be.
Years ago, I started a project called Positivity Ninjas on Instagram. The idea was to tag people who inspired positivity, and while the response was overwhelmingly supportive, I learned something important. Many of the people tagged messaged me privately to say they didn’t see themselves as positive at all. They admitted to struggling with self-doubt and down moments, despite how others viewed them.
This experience reinforced a key point: mindset improvement is a deeply personal journey. It’s not about comparing yourself to others or trying to meet some unrealistic standard of positivity. It’s about figuring out how you process situations and creating your own definition of what a “better mindset” looks like.
In the podcast, I share some strategies I’ve used to reframe my mindset. One is setting a benchmark. For me, it’s about being in a good headspace around 85% of the time. Not as a rigid rule, but as a goal that gives me space to acknowledge those 15% moments when I’m not feeling great.
Sometimes, being in a less-than-ideal headspace is necessary. It’s during those times that you can recalibrate and refocus. The goal isn’t to avoid negative feelings but to understand them and work through them at your own pace.
This journey is uniquely yours. It’s not a competition. There’s no gold medal for positivity or “winning” at mindset improvement. The only person you’re working with—and for—is yourself.
If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to listen to the full episode. I talk about the importance of giving yourself grace, why intrusive thoughts are normal, and how to navigate the ups and downs of mental growth.
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