Amanda Ketikidis: How to Beat Negative Thoughts and Reclaim a Positive Mindset
Even the most optimistic people face moments of doubt. For Amanda Ketikidis, a Miami-based travel and lifestyle blogger known for her sunshine-filled adventures and inspiring posts, negativity used to be one of her toughest battles.
“People often assume I’m always happy because my work is colorful and full of travel,” Amanda says. “But I’ve had days when negative thoughts felt louder than my dreams. Learning how to manage them — not ignore them — changed everything.”
Today, Amanda shares her personal approach to overcoming negativity — strategies she’s learned through travel, mindfulness, and experience. Her philosophy is simple: You can’t always control your thoughts, but you can control how you respond to them.
Here’s her guide on how to beat negative thoughts and invite more calm, confidence, and clarity into your life.
1. Acknowledge, Don’t Suppress
The first step to overcoming negativity, Amanda says, is recognizing it — not pretending it doesn’t exist. “When negative thoughts show up, most of us try to push them away,” she explains. “But resistance often makes them stronger.”
Instead, she practices awareness. “When I catch myself thinking, ‘I’m not good enough,’ I pause and acknowledge it: Okay, that’s a negative thought, not the truth. Once I name it, it loses power.”
Amanda compares this practice to mindfulness meditation. “Your thoughts are like clouds — they pass if you don’t hold onto them,” she says. “You just have to learn to watch them float by without letting them block your light.”
2. Challenge the Story
Negative thoughts often come from inner stories we repeat without realizing it. “We all have mental narratives — like ‘I always mess things up’ or ‘I’m not as successful as others,’” Amanda explains.
Her advice? Challenge the story.
“When I feel self-doubt creeping in, I ask myself: Is this thought based on facts, or is it just fear talking? Usually, it’s fear,” she says. “Once you question your thoughts, you start seeing them for what they are — temporary feelings, not lifelong truths.”
Amanda also keeps a “truth list” — a journal where she writes down positive affirmations and real accomplishments. “It reminds me of what’s real when my mind tries to convince me otherwise,” she says.
3. Shift Your Focus
For Amanda, travel has been one of the best teachers in perspective. “When you’re on the road, things go wrong all the time — missed flights, wrong directions, lost luggage. You learn that focusing on problems only magnifies them,” she says.
She’s learned to consciously redirect her attention. “If I’m spiraling into negativity, I ask myself: What can I appreciate right now? It could be something as simple as a good cup of coffee or the sound of the ocean.”
Gratitude, she believes, is one of the most powerful antidotes to negativity. “You can’t be grateful and negative at the same time,” she explains. “Gratitude shifts your vibration immediately.”
Amanda’s morning ritual includes writing three things she’s thankful for — whether she’s in her Miami apartment or halfway around the world. “It sets the tone for the day,” she says. “You start noticing what’s going right instead of what’s going wrong.”
4. Surround Yourself with Positivity
“You are the energy you surround yourself with,” Amanda says.
She believes environment plays a huge role in shaping your mindset — both physically and emotionally. “I curate my space to feel uplifting — plants, candles, bright colors, art that inspires me,” she explains. “It’s not about luxury. It’s about creating an atmosphere that feels peaceful.”
Beyond her physical space, Amanda is intentional about her social circle. “I protect my energy,” she says. “If someone constantly brings negativity, I set boundaries. I want to be around people who lift me higher — and I do the same for them.”
She also detoxes her digital environment regularly. “If scrolling through social media makes you feel less-than, unfollow those accounts. Fill your feed with inspiration, education, and kindness,” she advises.
5. Move Your Body to Move Your Mind
For Amanda, physical movement is essential to mental clarity. “When I’m stuck in my head, I go for a walk,” she says. “Within minutes, I feel the energy shift.”
She’s a big believer in the mind-body connection. “Exercise releases endorphins, which naturally lift your mood,” she explains. “But it’s not just about working out — it’s about releasing energy. Dance, stretch, swim, do yoga, hike — anything that gets you moving helps quiet negative thoughts.”
In Miami, Amanda often practices sunrise yoga on the beach or paddleboards through calm waters. “Nature has a way of resetting your perspective,” she says. “When you’re connected to the earth, your problems feel smaller, and your peace feels bigger.”
6. Practice Self-Compassion
Amanda believes one of the biggest sources of negativity comes from self-judgment. “We’re so quick to criticize ourselves for every mistake,” she says. “But you can’t hate yourself into healing.”
Instead, she practices self-compassion — treating herself with the same kindness she’d offer a friend. “When I make a mistake, I tell myself, It’s okay, you’re learning. That simple shift changes everything.”
She reminds her followers that progress isn’t linear. “Healing, growth, and confidence take time,” she says. “Be gentle with yourself — you’re doing your best.”
7. Limit Comparison
In the digital age, comparison can be one of the fastest triggers of negativity. As an influencer herself, Amanda knows how easy it is to fall into that trap.
“Social media is a highlight reel,” she says. “You can’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s best moments.”
When she feels comparison creeping in, Amanda practices reframing: “Instead of feeling jealous, I turn it into inspiration. If someone is doing something amazing, it shows me what’s possible.”
Her mantra? There’s enough room for everyone to shine.
8. Talk It Out
Amanda encourages open conversations about mental health. “Sometimes you can’t think your way out of negativity — you have to talk it out,” she says.
Whether it’s a friend, a mentor, or a therapist, she believes sharing your feelings lightens the load. “Vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s strength,” she explains. “When you speak your truth, you realize you’re not alone — and that’s incredibly healing.”
9. Create a Daily Positivity Practice
To maintain a positive mindset, Amanda follows a few daily rituals she calls her “mental vitamins.”
- Morning affirmations: She starts each day by saying something kind to herself, like “I am capable,” or “Today is a new beginning.”
- Mindful breaks: She sets reminders to pause and breathe throughout the day.
- Evening gratitude: Before bed, she reflects on one good thing that happened that day — no matter how small.
“Positivity is like a muscle,” Amanda says. “The more you train it, the stronger it gets.”
10. Remember That Negativity is Temporary
Finally, Amanda reminds her followers that negative thoughts are not permanent. “Feelings come and go like waves,” she says. “What matters is not avoiding them but remembering that they’ll pass.”
When she faces challenges, she often writes herself gentle reminders:
This feeling will fade. You’ve survived harder days. You are growing, even now.
“It’s about trust,” Amanda explains. “Trust in yourself, in time, in the process. No storm lasts forever.”
A Positive Life, One Thought at a Time
For Amanda Ketikidis, beating negative thoughts isn’t about being endlessly cheerful — it’s about cultivating resilience, compassion, and self-awareness.
“You can’t stop negative thoughts from appearing,” she says, “but you can choose not to let them define you. Every time you choose kindness over criticism, gratitude over fear, and faith over doubt, you take back your power.”
Through her travels, writing, and daily mindfulness, Amanda continues to inspire thousands to embrace positivity not as an act, but as a way of life.
Her final advice?
“Be patient with yourself. Happiness isn’t a destination — it’s a daily choice. And every time you choose hope, you win a little more light.”
About Amanda Ketikidis
Amanda Ketikidis is a Miami-based travel and lifestyle blogger known for her uplifting content, inspiring travel stories, and advocacy for mindfulness and wellness. Through her blog and social media, she helps her audience embrace joy, gratitude, and balance — both on the road and in everyday life.
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