Negative thoughts can creep into your mind when you least expect them. The trick isn’t to fight them, but to manage them so they don’t paralyze you. Here’s what to do:

• Identify the triggers – When you have a negative thought, stop and ask yourself what’s bringing it on. You may be tired or stressed out, or you may be affected by someone else’s perspective. If you can locate the cause, the thought itself won’t have as much power over you.
• Focus on the now – Worrying about the past or the future isn’t productive. When you start chastising yourself for prior mistakes or seeing disaster around every corner, stop and take a breath. Ask yourself what you can do at that moment to succeed. Giving yourself something to do will distract you from destructive thoughts.
• Replace the negative – If you find yourself plagued by a recurrent worry, train yourself to think of something else. Memorize a short poem, phrase, or meditation that you can repeat to yourself when you have negative thoughts. Your conscious mind can concentrate on only one thought at a time, and driving the negativity away will free you up to move forward again.