As living, breathing human beings, we are bound to have thoughts. As Descartes once said “Cogito Ergo Sum” or “ I think therefore I am”. When you think, there are going to be both positive and negative thoughts. The trick is not to prevent negative thoughts, but rather to accept them.
When you have a negative thought it is better to accept them, realize them, understand them and find a way to refocus them. Negative thoughts have a purpose the question is what is it? For the most part a negative thought can be used to see what is going wrong and find a way to readjust and improve. Acceptance is the first step in learning to understand and deal with our thoughts and feelings.
Once you have accepted them it is time to refocus them. The method you use to refocus will most likely not be the same as the method anyone else uses. You must find something that works specifically for you. What ever it is make it your own and own it. Put your own twist on it. Only then will you be able to move forward with whatever you were working on.
There is one more thing to keep in mind about your thoughts. When in the middle of a game there is a time and place to start worrying about them and that would typically be at the end of the game. The more time you spend worry about a thought during the game the more likely you are to lose track of what is going on and make a mistake. It is more important to refocus yourself in a game instantly and focus on what is going on later.