Ants are social insects that live in colonies. Understanding the behavior of ants will help you with the recommended pest control procedures, which include killing the entire colony. Just spraying an ant with a repellent spray will only kill a few of these pests at a time.
Ants
may enter your house through the smallest of openings. They forage for food,
water, or to seek shelter (from the elements). Once they find a food source,
ants will leave a pheromone trail for other ants to follow.
Like
the ants described above, Automatic
Negative Thoughts (ANTs) can infest
both your life (and home) through any life entry. Though they can be difficult to eradicate, you can
become ANT free if you really want to. These four questions will help you to confront those
disturbing ANT
feelings:
·
Is it true?
·
Can you absolutely know that it’s
true?
·
How do you react when you believe
that thought?
·
Who would you be without that
thought?
The different ways your thoughts lie to you and make
situations seem worse than they are, are listed below. Think of them as nine
different species of ANTs. When you can identify your type, you can take
away the power they have over you.
1. All or nothing: These cause your
brain to think everything is good or all bad. One mistake doesn’t mean you
should give up entirely on something wonderful.
2. Always thinking:
This is when you think in words that over generalize like always, never, every
time or everyone. This kind of thinking makes you feel like you are doomed to
fail. It is as if you have no control over your behaviors.
3. Focusing on the negative: You may see the negative aspects of a certain situation
even when there are plenty of positives. Put a constructive spin on a negative
thought. Encourage yourself to feel good about your accomplishments.
4. Thinking with your feelings: When you have a feeling about something, and you assume the
thoughts are correct. You never question it. Feelings can lie too. Look for
evidence
5. Guilt beating:
Typical phrases like “should”, “must”, “ought to”, and “have to” are typical
with this type of ANT. It involves using excessive guilt to control behavior.
When we feel pushed to do things, our natural tendency is to push back. That
doesn’t mean that guilt is all bad. There are certainly things in life that we
should and shouldn’t do . Don’t mistake these for guilt beating ANTs.
6. Labeling: When you call yourself or someone else names or use
negative terms to describe them, you have labeling in your brain. A lot of us
do this on a regular basis. You may have said one of the following at some
point in your life; “I’m a loser”; “I’m a failure”; or “I’m lazy.” The problem
with calling yourself names is that it takes away your desire for change .
7. Fortune-telling: Predicting the worst even though you don’t know what will
happen is the fortune. Nobody is safe from this kind of fortune telling.
8. Mind reading: When you think that you know what
somebody else is thinking even though they have not told you, and you have not
asked them, it is called mind-reading. Listen carefully to the other person
before trying to predict what they have to say.
9. Blame: Blaming others for your problems and taking no
responsibility for your own successes and failures is toxic thinking. it ruins
your life. You are a victim. You are powerless to change your behavior. Quit
blaming others and take responsibility for your actions.
As I close this post, here are some simple suggestions in keeping your
ANTS as far away as possible:
·
Meditate (or exercise).
·
Smile (or compliment someone).
·
Surround yourself with positive people.
·
Change the tone of your thoughts from negative to
positive.
·
Don’t play the victim. You create your life, and
take responsibility for it.
·
Help someone (volunteer).
·
Remember that no one is perfect, and let yourself
move forward.
·
Sing (or write)
·
List five things that you are grateful for right
now (or blessed to have).
·
Read positive quotes.
“If
you don't learn to control your thoughts, you will never learn how to control
your behavior.” (Joyce Meyer)[i]
HAPPY LABOR DAY!
[i] Sources used:
·
“Ant Control” (https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/ants.htm)
·
“9 Types of ANTs: Automatic Negative Thoughts that
Invade our Relationships and How to Exterminate Them” by Ms. April Showers
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