How to address negative thoughts

Dealing with negative thoughts are like biting the bullet. Because the more you try to suppress it the stronger it becomes, so how actually one can do that. I mean addressing negative thoughts in a right way. Let's play a little game where you must not think of a cage, that's it. Now tell me when I said not to think of a cage. Did you resist yourself successfully not to think about a cage, But actually you did imagine exactly the same as I said, and this is known as the irony of effects theory. According to which if you try to suppress something. It will happen more strongly. Even though we try to suppress, and we fail, so here is a solution. Next time whenever a negative thought arises badly. Then don't focus on that particular thought too much, like oh how can I think like that, or something. Because it's similar like doing revision, and the more you read something. The deeper it goes to your subconscious, so on that moment just liberate yourself for little bit, and be a spectator which will make that negative thought, or emotion weaker, and don't accept that particular thought. Because you are not obliged to accept each thought.Your mind throws at you, and as you know, if you don't revise something. It will varnish soon, and just think of mind, like a fertile land, so plant as much good seed you can because if you don't then unwanted wild plants will make their way in, and eventually, you will have to make efforts to remove those wild plants. Which is similar like empty mind is devil's workshop, so as I said earlier plant as much good seeds you can by doing meditation, or pickup some hobbies. Such as reading good books, or listening a podcast. At the end of day association put a really deep effect on your personality, so associate with good souls, and stay away from toxic imbecile.