1 . Most of us spend a lot of time inside our own mind—worrying about the future and focusing on the parts of life that leave us dissatisfied. Although they are common, negative or unwanted thoughts can prevent you from enjoying experiences, distract you from focusing on what’s important, and drain your energy.     1     The good news is that with practice, you can replace negative thinking patterns with helpful thoughts. Try these four ways to manage your negative thoughts:

    2     Our minds may convince us of something that isn’t really true. These misleading thoughts intensify negative thinking. If you can recognize them, you can learn to challenge them.

Take a break from negative thoughts. It is possible to learn how to separate from negative thoughts.     3     Then take a break from focusing on them and move on with your day.

Release judgment. We all judge ourselves and others, usually unconsciously. Constantly doing those leads to dissatisfaction. Be able to let go of judgment, and you will feel more relieved. Some ways to decrease judgmental thoughts include recognizing your own reaction, observing it, and then letting it go. Another helpful technique is to “positive judge.”     4    

Focus on your strengths.     5     If you find yourself trapped with negativity, take a moment to smile and think about something you like about yourself.