When what you are doing isn’t working, the most important thing to do is  STOP doing it.

Highly motivated people often have trouble stopping what they are doing.  When they stop, they feel like they are surrendering.  They know that if they don’t persevere, they will never reach their dreams. 

They redouble their efforts and continue pursuing a strategy doomed to failure.  This is wrong; instead of working harder, they need to stop what they are doing.  No matter how fast they run, if it’s in the wrong direction, they will never reach their dreams.

Some individuals charge through life never paying attention to feedback from family, friends, and colleagues.  They demonstrate no awareness of the consequences of their actions, and they don’t understand that they create most of their own problems.  Their chaotic world is full of negative thoughts telling them to stop what they are doing, find out what is wrong, and fix it.

When negative thoughts suddenly pop up in your mind, you need to understand they are there for a purpose.  They are a stop sign; you need to stop doing the wrong thing, and start doing the right thing.  Stop hurting yourself.  Stop the conflict.  Stop the depression.  Stop the toxic lifestyle.  Stop putting toxic waste into your mind.

Excerpt from :

Zero Tolerance To Negative Thinking : Good-by Depression - Hello Positive Mind

David J Abbott M.D.