How to Stop Negative Thoughts & Reset Your Mind for Positive Thinking

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

May 8, 2025

Duration

1h 21m

Channel

The Mel Robbins Podcast

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — In today’s episode, you are getting a step-by-step guide on how to change your mindset, stop negative thoughts, and make your mind work for you. What if the voice in your head — the one that criticizes, spirals, and second-guesses everything — could actually help you? In this powerful conversation, Mel sits down with one of the world's leading experts on the mind, Dr. Ethan Kross, PhD. He's a neuroscientist, award-winning psychologist, professor at the University of Michigan, director of The Emotion & Self Control Laboratory, and leading expert on the science of emotion, self-talk, and mental resilience. Today, he's here to teach you how to stop negative thoughts from running your life — using simple, science-backed tools. In this episode, Dr. Kross shares specific tactics, strategies, and insights you can use to break free from spiraling and reset your mind for positivity. If you're tired of overthinking, doubting yourself, or feeling stuck in your own head… this one’s for you. Class is in session, because after you listen to this, your brain will not be the same. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-287. Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Welcome 22:34 The 3 Most Common Types of Negative Self-Talk 28:54 Your Toolkit to Silence Negative Self-Talk 39:37 The Role of Rituals in Quieting Mental Chatter 47:42 A Proven Framework to Stay Committed to Your Goals 57:00 How Your Environment Shapes Your Self-Talk 01:05:17 Proven Tools to Stop Negative Self-Talk Fast 01:11:55 Help Someone You Love Who Struggles With Negative Self-Talk — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Ethan Kross

  guest

• Mel Robbins

  host

• Narrator

  other

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring Ethan Kross and Mel Robbins, How to Stop Negative Thoughts & Reset Your Mind for Positive Thinking explores turn Inner Critic Into Inner Coach With Science-Backed Mental Tools Mel Robbins interviews psychologist and neuroscientist Dr. Ethan Kross about how to understand and manage negative self-talk, or “chatter,” so it stops sabotaging your life. Kross explains what the inner voice actually is, why humans evolved negative emotions and worry, and how rumination, worry, and self-beratement show up in everyday thinking. He emphasizes that there is nothing abnormal about having an inner critic, but that unmanaged chatter drains attention, performance, relationships, and health. Together they walk through a toolkit of simple, research-backed strategies to create distance from thoughts, regulate emotions, and turn your inner critic into a practical, supportive inner coach.

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