I know I'm not one to talk, because I haven't actually done this, but I think one way you can help conquer negative thoughts is to post quotes that make you feel powerful and good about yourself around your home, and force yourself to read them when you come upon them (rather than letting yourself get used to them and ignore them).

Of course, it helps to collect these quotes. I don't mean collect any inspirational quotes or quotes you like, but the ones that speak to you. I have a file of such quotes. Reading them helps me remember that no one is perfect and that there are good things about me.

Some of my favorites are from Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural speech (if you definitely don't believe in God, part of this may not speak to you, but just Google for quotes sites, and you'll find something for you):

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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There's nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

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Of course, you also have to work internally. It's hard not to give in to that desire to put yourself down. It's comfortable and familiar. It feels uncomfortable to disallow yourself to say negative things to yourself, or to counter it. By the way, it's almost automatic to call yourself stupid or whatever in reaction to some things, and you have to learn not to beat yourself up for making the mistake of letting it happen when you're trying to change the behavior. Instead, counter it: Say, "That was just my negativity. Just because it speaks to me, doesn't mean I can't tell it to 'Shut up!'" Tell yourself, "No, I'm not stupid!" or, "No, I don't always [fill in the blank]!" And sometimes you'll slip and wallow in the misery. That doesn't mean you've failed. It's like changing your eating lifestyle; sometimes you might give in and eat a pint of ice cream, or even go back to your bad habits for a day or two...that doesn't mean you have to throw in the towel. Ok, you made a mistake, or a few. Big deal. People fall off of horses. Get back in the saddle and start riding again!

You have to learn that most mistakes aren't as big as you might make them out to be. You didn't kill your spirit. It's stronger than you think.