Driving away negative thoughts doesn’t require a tremendous amount of effort, but it can be a pretty serious battle. You can’t just tell these thoughts to be gone, but instead, you need to develop a longstanding strategy for driving them away and keeping them out for good.

1. Admit that you have a problem. It can be downright impossible to do self-reflection on this topic because we often don’t pay attention to our own words or body language. One helpful way to gauge your level of self-defeatist attitude and negativity is to create a chart with two sides. On one side, write down all your positive thoughts that day. On the other, write down all your negative thoughts. You’ll be amazed by how much negativity the average person keeps in their head.

2.  Exercise. Getting your body moving is great for changing your mood and your thoughts. You don’t have to run a marathon or swim across the English Channel to make that kind of change. You can just step up, take a walk, do some jumping jacks, or dance. That’s right... dance. Try turning on your favorite music and moving and grooving for a few minutes and see if you’re feeling negative afterward.

3. Practice Gratitude. If making a list of your thoughts was the first step to recognizing your negativity problem, building a positivity list could be the first step toward solving it. Make a list of all the things you’re grateful for. Having trouble coming up with a list? How about your breath, your pulse, your sight, and all the other basic amenities we take for granted?  Once you start writing your list out, you’ll find that it snowballs and fills your mind with positivity. 

4. Talk about it.  Find a friend, family member, therapist, or helpful ear to listen to your problems without judgment, and without recommendation (unless you want it). You could also pray, journal, or craft an art project around your feelings. Once they’re out there, you’ll find yourself strangely (perhaps magically is a better word) unburdened of negative thinking.

5. Change your language. Take stock of the vocabulary and phrases you use regularly, as you did in point number one. Eliminate negative phrases and words from your lexicon, and watch your thoughts change as well. You should also take note of your body language and posture. Avoid slouching, and above all, smile!