When you put some space between you and your reaction, it changes your relationship to your thoughts- you can observe them come in and out of awareness instead of treating them as facts.

If you are heading toward or become stuck in a negative thought, ask yourself:

Your first reaction is the brain initially reacting to the autopilot you live with. Knowing it is a pre-programmed response to perceived threat take 5 minutes to sit quietly and ask yourself the following-

Is it true? Are the thought 100% accurate? Can you see the thought in a different way?

How does this thought make me feel? Notice any storylines you’re holding onto, and name your feelings.

What would things be like if I didn’t hold this belief? Imagine possible benefits of no longer holding this belief.

The bottom line: Thoughts simply aren’t facts, they are mental events that pop up in the mind and are dependent on our mood.