The key insight is that you can control your own thoughts when you pay attention to them, and through your thoughts you can control your feelings. Your old habits will come back while you're not paying attention, but sufficient attention and conscious practice will change the habits your brain follows when you aren't paying attention.

Whether you use the language of Buddhism (meditation and awareness), folk psychology, or modern psychological (cognitive therapy), you will be using a practice that has not only deep traditional roots but also modern scientific evidence of effectiveness.