Thinking is Addictive. 5 Strategies To Help Us Stop Over thinking.
I wrote an article about whether I am overthinking about my autistic son and the response to this article was tremendous. I decided to do more research on this topic and will like to share 5 strategies that can help us to stop overthinking.
We are now living in an era of information overload with some many stimulus competing for our attention. What a lot of people did not realized is that thinking can be additive. Once we start thinking in a certain way, we tend to get suck into more and more similar thoughts. Gradually over time, a pattern of thinking is formed, with thoughts of similar themes playing in our mind like a broken CD. The end result is that we tend to overthink and over analysed and become anxious.
However there are some simple strategies which can help us to stop overthinking.
1. Be An Observer Of Our Thoughts
We need to be able to observe and entertain thoughts that come to our mind instead of cutting off these thoughts immediately. The best way to do this, is to observe our thinking. Imagine that we are watching a movie of ourselves having these thoughts. How are these thoughts serving us? Are the thoughts helping or hindering us? Let go of thoughts that are hindering us. With practice, it will become easier and easier to let go of thoughts that create unnecessary worries. In this way, we can break gradually break the pattern of overthinking.
2. Shifting Our Perspective
When we start having the same thoughts over and over again, ask ourselves this question. Will these thoughts matter in 3 hours, 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months or 3 years time? This will enable us to look at things with better perspective and keep ourselves grounded. Thus we are able to focus on major issues and don't sweat over small stuff.
3. Live In The Present
A lot of our overthinking lies with our regrets of the past and our fears of the future. There is no way for us to change our past and we can only change our future by changing how we act now. Instead of being trapped by both our past and future, we need to be fully present now and seize the moment. If we can stop regretting the past and stop being fearful of the future, our mind is able to focus on the present. In this way, we are able to stop overthinking.
4. Change Our Physiology
I was very fortunate to have attended Anthony Robbins' Unleash The Power Within program. One my takeaway from this program is that just changing my physiology, I am able to change my state of mind. If I stand upright, put my head in the air and take powerful strides, I can change from a state of fear to a state of confidence. By changing my physiology, I can change my state of mind to one where I don't overthink and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
5. Putting Our Trust In A Higher Being
When we put our trust in a higher being, we release the need to control our lives. Instead we believe that God has a plan for us and we are able to surrender ourselves to Him. So when bad things happen, we do not ask, God why me? Instead we believe that these things happen for a purpose. Then we are able to let go of our fears and worries and stop overthinking.
The above 5 strategies are not magical pills which can help you to stop overthinking instantly. The strategies are not meant to be understood at a purely theoretical level. Instead we need to embrace and apply these strategies in our lives. Only then, slowly but surely can we start to reduce our overthing gradually. The good news is that it gets easier with practice.
Give these strategies a try and share your experiences with us.
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Masturbating is also addictive. Any strategies to help with that sir?
never leave yourself alone keep yourself busy as much as pposssible you will not give attention towards those stuffs
I was just making fun of this crappy post. I love masturbating and don't plan quitting any time soon.
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I think that this is just great. It is the first time that my article has been turned into a audio article and I just loved it.
I get pleased very much your post, since particularly I belong to the persons who think TOO MUCH about the things that I have earring and in occasions I do not do anything to do them, me creating sometimes pains of heads and up to problems of health. I have to one 1-year-old baby and worry very much for the things that they could happen to him and practically I stop enjoying the present for thinking about things that they have not happened. It will bear in mind these strategies to take a life mas relaxed of thought negatives, in benefit of my health and for the care that my pretty daughter deserves. Regards
Overthinking is what a lot of us tend to do and what end up being anxious and fearful. I am glad that you find my article useful and I hope that you can resteem it. I hope that you will have great success in trying out these strategies and that you life will turn out for the better.
Very helpful article! Thanks :)
Most welcome. Thanks for visiting.
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The only things I spend on physical effort allow me to stop thinking.
Fully Advice :)
We need to be engaged in different things and physical exercises is one of them.
Is it possible for feeling to become as addictive as thinking?
It is very possible for feelings to be addictive. In fact we become addicted to some things due to the feelings that we want to create for ourselves.
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Very wise publication, there was a time in my life that I used to think too much, I think it is one of the defects of the engineers, it was difficult for me to rest my mind for what caused a lot of stress, to situations I put a lot of logic, until I learned to rest in God, to leave all burdens in his hands. Life was different my health improved, now I do what I can do and I think about everything good, everything just, everything in good name.Thank you for sharing @positivesteem.
For those who believe in God, the best strategy is to surrender your life in God's hand.
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Yes, there are lots of reason for not doing something .......but there is only one reason to do something, and some do that with one reason.
Sometimes it is very important to know the reason or the why we are doing something.
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very good on practical suggestion but in reality it base on self discipline to stay on the road to get success
Thanks for commenting and visiting.
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Such a great post. I am guilty of this. overthinking ruins happiness. it turns you into a psycho. it affects the entire state of your being, most importantly , your relationship with people. it feeds you with fear and steal away hope from you. You live your days imagining things that may never happen entirely. Sometimes one cannot really be blamed as some situations can be so overwhelming that it consumes you and leaves you empty. But what this post tries do is to let people like myself know that you can do better with constant effort. you can be happy regardless. Thank you.
I hope that you will try some of these strategies. Do share Smith of your experience.
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