Suppose a coworker or a grocery store clerk suddenly gave you a
mean look. How would you react? Would you just let it slide off
you, like water off a duck? Or would you take it personally and
feel bad about yourself, or even get angry about it? If you turn
small things into big things that bother you for days, weeks, or
even longer, you're having negative thoughts. Negative thoughts
can make you feel sad and anxious. They take the joy out of
life-and they can take a toll on your physical health. That's
why it's so important to learn how to deal with them. One way to
deal with negative thoughts is to replace them with thoughts
that make you feel better. Let's say you just learned that you
have a health problem. You might tell yourself "My life will
never be the way it used to be" or "This is the beginning of the
end for me." That will probably make you feel pretty bad-and it
will make your body weaker, just when you need it to be strong.
Or you could tell yourself something like "This is going to be a
challeng