LIFE

#1. Don’t give in to the urge to gossip

When everyone around you is passing around the latest hearsay, it’s oh-so tempting to spill the beans. But the thing is, the more you talk about others, the more you think about them critically—and the more critically you think about yourself, too. The next time you find yourself stuck in the grapevine, try to redirect the conversation to something more positive. And if that’s a lost cause, excuse yourself. You’ve so got better things to do.

#2. Chide yourself for those negative thoughts

Every time something mean pops into your head, give yourself a sharp mental slap on the wrist. It might take a while to break the habit, but you’ll find it second nature to think good things instead of bad.

#3. Come up with three positives for every negative

Still thinking negative? Counteract the bad karma—and reprogram your brain—by coming up with three fab things to balance out the perceived bad. Soon the good will be all you see.

#4. Share the positivity

Got good vibes goin’ on? Share ‘em with the world! Compliment a girl’s hair or cool accent. Tell a guy you like his t-shirt, or flash him a thumbs-up when he nails that free throw in gym. You’ll get the sweet thoughts coming back to you in spades.

How do you stop yourself from thinking and saying mean things? Share your best tips in the comments!

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by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016