thought stopping techniques

When negative thoughts keep swirling in your mind and you just can't seem to turn your brain off, everything you attempt is that much more difficult. Remember--you are in charge of your thoughts! Next time you are stuck in a mental traffic jam, try one of these methods to regain control of your thoughts.

1. breathing
Notice your heart rate. Now, consciously breathe in through your nose, fill your belly with air (not just your chest), pause, and then breathe out your mouth. As you do this, say: In through the nose, notice the pause, and out through the mouth. Take several of these slow, relaxing breaths until you start to feel the tension associated with the negative thoughts. By focusing on your breath and repeating the mantra, you've regained control of what you are thinking about.

2. look at the clouds
I once had a yoga teacher tell me this and I honestly thought it was for the birds! Now here I am recommending it, too. The key is practice. When you have a thought, telling yourself to simply stop thinking about it is nearly impossible. So, accept the thought but distance yourself from it. Picture the thought as a cloud floating across your mind. Stay with the thought until the cloud floats out of sight. If another cloud (or the same one!) comes back, simply repeat the process.

3. let go of the old
If you're tired of ruminating about the same frustrating things, take a mental inventory of what you're holding onto. In order to fit new items into a stuffed closet, some old items must be removed. Think of all the grudges, annoyances, and unfulfilling relationships you are holding onto. Why do these things mean so much that you let them control you, your thoughts and your feelings? Start small, but let go of one thing that's not bringing you joy. Once you clear this mental space, it's free to let in new and exciting thoughts and ideas.