Positive affirmations are a great tool to rewire negative self-talk and boost self-esteem. They can help in transforming your mindset and fueling optimism. Writing positive affirmations consistently in your journal can help change the way you think and speak about yourself. Here are some examples: When the brain is ‘at rest,’ the areas that light up are the problem solving areas and areas associated with self-referential thinking. So, when left to its own devices, the brain will overthink,” says Dattilo. That means you have to train your brain to do otherwise—particularly if you’re overthinking at certain times, like before bed. It’s possible to reprogram that habit with other mind-clearing activities instead, she adds. Meditate Remember, these journal prompts are just a starting point. Feel free to modify them to suit your needs or come up with your own prompts that reflect your unique situation. With regular journaling, you can reduce overthinking and promote a more peaceful and fulfilled life. Overthinking can be both alluring and tiring. We may feel it offers us the chance to solve a problem, think our way out of something difficult, or achieve radical change. Whilst this is not untrue, the process can also be exhaustive and difficult to escape.

Mindfulness is the practice of staying present in the moment, aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. Mindfulness journal prompts can help you develop this practice, and improve your present moment awareness. Here are fifteen mindfulness journal prompts to get started: What makes a relationship last? Think about your relationships from past experiences. How long did you stay in those relationships? Were the relationships fulfilling or were they draining? Is there more than one right path? If we fail to consider all possibilities before taking action, we could end up making decisions which lead to regrets down the road. Don’t forget to plan for alternatives.Abbo C, Okello E, Ekblad S, Waako P, Musisi S. Lay concepts of psychosis in Busoga, Eastern Uganda: A pilot study. World Cultural Psychiatry Research Review. 2008; 3:132–145. [ Google Scholar]

Kleinman A. Anthropology and psychiatry: the role of culture in cross-cultural research on illness. British Journal of Psychiatry. 1987; 151:447–454. [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Why must I try harder? Sometimes we have to work harder to get our success. To achieve our dreams takes effort. Be willing to put in the extra mile to reach your goals. When “thinking too much” was presented in association with psychiatric constructs, the ways that authors arrived at these comparative diagnoses differed widely. These methodological and analytic differences complicate cross-cultural comparison of “thinking too much” idioms to psychiatric categories.Durst R, Minuchin-Itzigsohn S, Jabotinsky-Rubin K. ‘Brain fag’ syndrome: Manifestation of transculturation in an Ethiopian Jewish immigrant. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences. 1993; 30:223–232. [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Do I regret anything? Yes. But regrets also happen when we fail to act because we’re afraid of failure, or we fear rejection if we attempt new things. Regret happens when we miss a great opportunity due to hesitation. Abas et al., 2003; Abas et al., 1994; Abas & Broadhead, 1997; Chibanda et al., 2010; Chibanda et al., 2011; Patel, 1995; Patel et al., 1995a; Patel & Mann, 1997; Patel et al., 1995b; Winston & Smith, 2000

What would someone else who has successfully solved a similar problem do in my situation, and how can I apply their strategies? The cultural ideal of spiritual and psychological well-being is the ability to maintain stoic equanimity in the face of adversity, to act virtuously and unselfishly, controlling one’s passions and emotions […] The complaint of nghinhieu qua, “thinking too much,” is therefore a serious complaint, implying loss of ability to maintain internal harmony ( Merkel, 1996, 1272). D’Avanzo C, Barab S. Depression and anxiety among Cambodian refugee women in France and the United States. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 1998; 19:541–556. [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar]

Overthinking Journal Prompts FAQs

Who do I admire? People who understand their strengths and weaknesses are admired for their strength of character. No matter where they come from, people who follow their dreams have developed valuable skills which help them stand out from the crowd. Fearing the situation is uncontrollable - the more out of control we consider something to be, the more we might try to think of every conceivable outcome to try and regain some control. However, this can feel difficult to escape from and can promote an escalation of overthinking. What am I afraid will become true? When your mind goes into overdrive, it creates its own fears. List down your worries and find ways to resolve them. Department of Psychiatry Center for Diversity, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.