If I may, I would like to speak from a biblical perspective. If that may help you or your friend in need.
How to avoid negative thinking, including dark thoughts or feelings of darkness.
(Proverbs 15:15) in The Bible says that "the one with a cheerful heart has a continual feast." Clearly, people who avoid unnecessary negative thoughts and approach life with a positive outlook tend to be happier.
Still, there are realities of life that even the brightest optimist must face. For example:
▪️ The news may bombard you with reports of war, terrorism, or crime.
▪️ You or your friend might have to deal with problems in the family household.
▪️ You or your friend no doubt have your own failings and weaknesses to contend with.
▪️ You or your friend may have hurt each other's feelings.
I suggest that rather than close your eyes to those realities, fixate on them so that you feel miserable. Try to strike a balance. A realistic approach will help you or your friend to avoid undue negative thoughts and accept life's realities without being crushed by them.
What you can do to help overcome dark thinking or negative outlooks?
▪️ Keep your faults in perspective. Take a look at (Ecclesiastes 7:20) if you'd like. In that scripture, it says: "There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never makes a mistake." The fact that you have faults and make mistakes show that you are human, not that you are a failure. Work on your faults, but don't expect perfection from yourself. Instead, try to learn from them so that you can see ways to improve the situation.
▪️ Be a peacemaker, especially in your family. Take a look at (Romans 12:18) if you'd like, it says: "If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable." You can't fully control the actions of others, but you can control your reaction. You can choose to be peaceable.
▪️ Cultivate gratitude. Take a look at (Colossians 3:15) if you'd like, it says: "Show yourselves thankful." A grateful spirit will help you to focus on what's going right in your life rather than on everything that seems to be going wrong. Acknowledge your problems, but don't be blind to the good things in your life. My best friend Rebecca gave me a recommendation that every day, I should write one positive thing in a journal reminding myself that overall I have many positive things to think about and dwell on.
▪️ Examine your friendships. Friends will go through hard times, and for a while, they may be negative about their life. Support them, but don't be consumed by their problems. Take a look at (1 Corinthians 15:33) if you'd like. In that scripture, it says: "Bad associations spoil useful habits." When the people you spend time with are critical, cynical, or bitter, their negative traits will rub off on you.
You can weather life's storms, confident that in due time, the sun will re-appear for you.
Here's something to also help out, take a look at these two statements I've recorded (with permission from my friends) on what they say about negative outlooks and thoughts that they have cultivated to turn out good!
#1 Emma - "Sometimes when I find myself thinking negatively, I make a list of pros and cons of whatever it is I'm thinking about. This allows me to step back and look at the situation from a different perspective. Often there are more positive aspects to a seemingly negative situation."
#2 Joshua - "When I'm thinking negatively, I search for some ways that I can help someone or I find that I can do for others. Jesus said that there is happiness in giving, and giving always balances out the negative thoughts I sometimes deal with."
Hopefully, this helps out you or your friend in need. Try applying some of the counsel I've provided. Many blessings to you and them!
