How do you guard your thoughts?

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts; therefore guard accordingly.  -Marcus Aurelius

I have a hard enough time filtering what slips out of my big mouth, let alone filtering my thoughts!!

But, I get the concept, I suppose.  Good thoughts produce good energy, bad thoughts seem to breed and multiply and invade your brain like a fast growing mold.

I am always uber emotional during that time of the month.  I notice my mind wandering more often, contemplating the hard issues in life, tears escape before I can suppress them, and the missing feelings are much worse when I can't seem to get a hold of my hormones. 

I started this post a couple days ago when I couldn't seem to concentrate on anything productive.  I would consciously think to myself "Ok, stop thinking about that!  It doesn't do any good, I can't do anything to change it, and it doesn't matter."  But it's like my mind is handcuffed; holding my positive thoughts out and recycling the bad thoughts on replay.  I am stuck wondering, questioning, spinning and spinning, but fully knowing that the answers can't be found in a book and I can't google them.

What do you do when you can't stop thinking about something?  Where is the key to the handcuffs? How do you let go of the pain?

I suppose you guard your thoughts...easier said than done.

**Sorry for the few males that follow!  I know the mention of "that time of the month" makes some men squeamish:)