Provided by Anitha KC
“The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts”.
Marcus Aurelius
Does thinking leads to thoughts or thoughts trigger our thinking? However, we do think! Thinking is essential for us to sustain ourselves. But it is enough to think based on our needs rather than becoming a victim of our own thinking.
Our mind has different parts and one of that is the Intellect, the faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively. It is very important for the survival.
Now, we live in the time of technological advancements and we do not have to struggle on many issues that previous generations were facing for their survival (food, shelter and security). Looks like when our basic needs are taken care, our intellect starts to look for more challenges. As a result, some of us get into the habit of thinking and analyzing the things we come across and gradually we may get into overthinking and unnecessary analysis. In turn, it may end up as a frustration on anything or everything for not being good enough or perfect as per our expectations.
Intellect is a like a double edged sword. While it dissects and analyzes the things it comes across, continuous usage of it may start hurting us. Once we get into the habit of over analyzing and thinking, it can be like a whirlpool. For every small things, we tend to dig-down & dissect and when we could not get out of those thoughts, it leads to irritation. Though these things look small, over the period of time they can become a burden on us.
Another observation, it is easy to over-think on negative things than the positive or good things. Hence, the thoughts that are slightly towards negative side move faster and faster and could create a havoc in our mind. Thus, even the minor problems get zoomed into bigger ones and start bothering us. Most of the time, these minor issues may not matter to us in reality. Still they may cause anxiety, just because of overthinking. Sometime it makes us feel as a scapegoat of the surroundings, though it’s only an illusion.
To escape from whirling thoughts, people may even go for drugs and drinks which can temporarily pacify them. But it is more like trying to reduce your brain’s capacity. It’s up to the individual to decide whether they want to pursue peace and happiness by such means.
It would be great for mankind if we could do overthinking on the positive aspects and be happier and merrier. It is an ideal situation and may not be that easy to do, especially when one has got stuck in the loop of pointless overthinking.
Meditation is a way that helps us to watch and moderate our thinking. It gives us the mental stamina to withstand and guide our thoughts on required areas. With regular practice, it becomes easier to reduce overthinking and be calm internally.
Another alternative is to leverage this habit to create something. Channelizing the energy behind this overthinking on creative interests can help both individual and their surroundings. Taking up a hobby or a sports or a job of our passion can really help us to use our energy to create something better and it can be satisfying also.
What is your way to reduce overthinking? Are you continuing the same or looking for an alternative for the New Year?
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Author is an amateur blogger and an aspiring Author. Keen to understand the life and live it fully. She has a blog called Resonance of life where she records her thoughts on things around and within us. https://resonanceoflife.home.blog/ |
Anitha KC
After reading this I would agree to a point but a very important element was missing we are emotional creatures that’s governed by a different part of the brain there inlines our Condry intellect being overruled by emotions which allows you to delude yourself when facts are staring you in the face would that be considered un-thinking?
Agree, I have not touched on the emotional aspects. It is a big area to deal with. Just considered the reasoning side and the issues we get because of it.
This really changed my thought process
Thanks, good to know that it was helpful.
I like colouring in & music to occupy my mind. I also love reading & learning. These are likely to continue, although the subjects may change.
Yes, good to change the activities based on the changed in our interests. I do the same.
*changes
I think channeling your thoughts into creativity is an excellent idea. Some people may have “analysis paralysis” where they think too much, but actually it seems like a more common problem is repeating negative behaviors without ever thinking about a solution.
I agree with you on “repeating negative behaviors without ever thinking about a solution”.
It takes more internal stamina to change when a person is in that kind of situation. Easier way is to focus on what we like or what we are good at. With this kind of diversion, repetitive negative thoughts get diluted and gradually we grow stronger to control it.
I engage myself in meaningful activities, I can decide to write, sew or do anything I love when I discover am beginning to overthink, staying idle would give you more time to dwell on these thoughts.
Good, It really helps us if we could get involved in some interesting activities of our choice.
I meditated and still meditate hard. It teaches me how to care less about results. Rather, it helps me focus on the thing I am doing at that moment. This then helps relieve worry because you are too much into what you are doing and you start feeling that you do your best at any moment
Yes, meditation really help to slow down and also to observe/monitor our thoughts.
Yes!
Very nice topic! We shud practice this in our day today life!
Awesome…. Over thinking can lead to depression and when one is depressed, there are rooms open for negativity.
So just as said..Finding something you crave for and following up with your passion helps alot
Yes, you are right. I just tried to avoid that word..Depression and repetitive negative thoughts go hand in hand.
True! The thing is that finding that something we crave for is not that easy sometimes…
Well written Anita and a nice topic for self reflection! One never realises when they have gone from thinking to overthinking unless there is a conscious effort to reflect and let go, it’s pure addiction! Diverting the mind and hence our attention to something that we love is good but the inertia, the resistance to do that is exponentially higher and one who can overcome it deserves our applaud and appreciation ‘cos not everyone is capable of doing it!
Thanks. It is difficult to kick out the resistance. You may find some thoughts about it at:
https://resonanceoflife.home.blog/2018/12/07/enough/
Yes. Quality of thoughts makes a difference in your life.