It can be so easy to slip into negative thinking, even when you know better. For many people, it's something that is so automatic and so hard to change, and often you don't even realize you're doing it.

If you can't get out of bed, that means you're lazy. If you have trouble making friends, that means you're unlikable. If you deeply invest yourself in relationships, that means you're clingy or dependent. Right? It seems obvious.

But our first thoughts about a situation are not always the most accurate, and rarely leave room for patience or understanding with ourselves. As much as you may want to believe it, failures usually are not the result of some fundamental flaw within yourself. You are human, and that comes with limitations, struggles, and setbacks.

If you can't get out of bed one morning, chances are you're just tired. You're allowed to be, and there's nothing wrong with you as a person for that. If you struggle to make friends, maybe it is difficult for you to open up to people or relax around them. If you think you care too much about other people, it probably means that you are somebody who is full of love and kindness. Share that love, because you never know who needs it.

You can always change the way you look at a situation. Be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Respect yourself. Challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone but also remember that you are only capable of so much. You need to be aware of your boundaries before you can overcome them.

Next time you're down on yourself, ask:

Am I looking at this in the right way? In a healthy way? In a positive and productive way. If not, what are new ways I can look at the situation? Are there more perspectives to take?

The answer will almost always be yes.