You might create the crisis by overthinking because this is your comfort zone or you might feel like it’ll help you be prepared to manage anything bad that might happen. 2. An attempt to gain control Remember, there's nothing to lose from trying something for your own enjoyment. Therefore, there's no good reason to worry about how well you'll do. Just compete against yourself and do your best not to worry what others might think. Those of us who are natural problem solvers may suffer from overthinking. It keeps us in “fixing mode”, and the feeling that there is a solution is what feeds the thinking. Facing up to uncertainty is a great way to move through overthinking. I personally like to focus on all the things I can control in my life and I start by focusing on my wellness routines. It gives me a sense of control as well as refuels me so I am better able to cope with difficult situations. 4. Perfectionism The problem is twofold: very few people actually understand their thinking habits and even fewer the power of their own moods.

Now, the problem is that while knowledge (the ability to solve familiar problems) exists within your processing brain, wisdom lies out of the reach of your processing mind and somewhere deep inside your free-flowing mode of thinking. Not one day can be fruitful if more time than necessary is allowed for aimless thinking. A mind rests well at night knowing its day has been directed toward worthy goals. Thanks, Susan – as they say, admitting it is half the battle! It is worth the effort, and knowing that we're not alone in our double thinking is helpful – perhaps we can treat our selves with more compassion! Fear of conflict can lead to overthinking in a way that triggers avoidance of one’s authentic feelings making that person incapable of asserting themselves in key situations. This is highly unhealthy. It is important to stop thinking that you cannot handle healthy conflict. How does overthinking seep into our lives?

Finding new language to define your control can be a good way to reframe your outlook. For example, “I have control of my reaction to this situation and plan to do my best.” Making progress in reframing will open up opportunities to improve negative thinking. Don’t be afraid to ask for help It’s no surprise that having the misfortune of being treated undesirably leads people to suppress and repress anger toward other people.

You may have learned to overthink due to childhood trauma. A coping mechanism to deal with stressful situations during your upbringing may turn on overthinking. Now, this is your go-to aid. You might expect something bad to happen even when things are going well. Many of our clients describe this as, ‘waiting for the other shoe to drop’ because you are used to living in a state of crisis. Stop thinking start living by Richard Carlson. Originally published as You can feel good again, in 1993. A 2020 study found that forcing a smile can help shift your brain toward more positive thinking [1] . Therefore, try to smile, even when you’re feeling down. You may find that it turns your day in a better direction. Just like Janice Kaplan, Richard Carlson too thinks that gratitude is attitude – and one which is so powerful that it works as the best “antidote for depression.”Please share! Do you spend too much time in your head? What helps you to move from head to heart to hands? Share in the comments – but don’t think about it too much… just type! I bought this for a friend. This book actually makes you think about what you are thinking about which we all do without thinking about it. It looks at things in a different perspective and how a persons thought process affects them. It really helps you move away from the negativity and makes you realise who is in control. It has certainly changed the way i think and of others that i know who have read it. Dont be put off by the title and you dont have to be depressed or down to read this, i would say it is suitable for anyone. Brilliant.

Feel free to read it if you haven’t read Slowing Down to the Speed of Life , and You Can Be Happy No Matter What. Another shared, “This morning, I’ve been thinking (ha!) that I spend so much time thinking, I neglect to simply FEEL.” The best part about box breathing is that it can be done from anywhere at any time. All you need is the right mindset. When your final years are approaching, you will not worry about how well you thought through your decisions, or how thoroughly and accurately you approached life’s forks in the road.Carlson wrote ten more books after that, before passing away suddenly at 46 from a pulmonary embolism. Well, the same should be true with your thoughts: so many of them are bad thoughts, and yet, since you firmly believe that they are yours, instead of freeing yourself from them, you let them imprison you in their negativity. Create a “Things to Worry About” box. Use a real shoebox with a slot cut on the top of it. Every time you do find yourself worrying, write down the worry and put it in the box. Decide to forget about it, because it is captured in the box and you can pull it out anytime you need to. However, don’t take them out just yet! At the end of every couple of months, review your worries. Tear up those that never came to fruition and throw them out. Those that might still happen stay in the box. I managed to collate a number of strategies for effectively reducing over-thinking. Below are some of my favorite simple and easy-to-implement insights and strategies: 1. Remember that over-thinking does not lead to insight.