Most of us are aware that our thoughts control our life. Those of us who are at a happy place in their mind will see the world from a giddy perspective. Others who are having morose or gloomy thoughts might not be able to appreciate the beauty of whatever is around them.

Both these reasons should be able to convince anyone to get a grip on their (negative) thoughts. After all, they have so much power over our lives. They determine whether we feel miserable or giddy at any moment during the day. It should be a no-brainer for us then to try to stop them

Here’s how we can do that:

#1: Appreciate the good things in life
Loved the coffee that you had on your way to work? Mention it in your gratitude journal. Finding the results of the Clorox 360 disinfectant sprayer that you purchased last week excellent? Make a note of it in, again, your gratitude journal.

In case you’re wondering, this approach of identifying and then being thankful for everything that is good in your life will make you appreciate what you have. Research tells us that the feeling of gratitude has a positive impact on our well-being. It will help us break free from negative thoughts.

#2: Cut down the time you spend watching (or reading) news
Research has found out that people who spend only three minutes of their morning time in watching the news have a more chance of having a negative experience throughout the day. Little wonder, then, that more than half of Americans complain that news causes them stress.

Of course, nobody is asking you to steer well clear of news. It’s almost impossible to do that in the world of Twitter and Facebook. You are going to get that electrostatic sprayer disinfectant stories as well. What you should do, at the very least, is to cut down the time during which you’re filling your mind with news.

#3: Pat yourself on the back with positive affirmations
Positive thinking might be difficult but it is worth it, especially when it comes to breaking negative thought patterns. The next time you make a mistake and your mind wants you to scold yourself, tell yourself, “I’ve done XYZ thing that turned out to be a success.”

Similarly, if a negative thought creeps in your mind, think of a victory you’ve had recently and how that made you feel. Such positive affirmations will not only break the cycle of negative thoughts but will also improve the quality of your life.