Tell HN: A thinking pattern that has helped me overcome negative thinking?

I've been looking into how to be less pessimistic, defeatist, apathetic and become more curious, action oriented and all that good stuff. I read through dozens of ideas.. but one thing has worked.

Don't use logic. Monitor your thoughts and if you find even hint of negative thoughts, stop it. you're done. mentally leave.

For so long I tried logic my way out and it never worked, to top it off negative thoughts are often very logical too. So counter logic has to work really hard to be convincing.

But if you don't fight that battle and just create a principle for yourself that you will now allow yourself to go there, it starts to work.

Over time, you will naturally think less and less such thoughts, and become better at monitoring.

Even if negative thoughts are logical this is better because the outcomes are superior. I.e. not sulking over things that are true but you can't do anything about.

Sure it's healthy to be realistic and have good dose of pessimism, but if you have been on negative side for too long, then you need to have pendulum swung to the other side first to break the patterns deeply carved in your brain.

TLDR: monitor your thoughts and follow your principle of not engaging them ever