Negative thoughts are hungry for external validation.
A single agreement with your internal criticism is enough to drop you into infinite loops of negativity.
The reverse, however, is rarely true. No amount of external validation can quieten down the levels of self-criticism.
The antidote for negative thoughts then isn’t external approval but positive and truthful self-talk. Heaps of it.
Not some unreal, over-optimistic outlook of the world. But a balanced view that acknowledges the reality and values different perspectives, possibilities and hope.