Ha, Amorita-sa! So true! I've done the same thing… had to ask "did I just think that or did I actually say it?!" The dialogue in our heads is so rich 🙂 Use Your Analytical Brain Less to Be Happier There Is a Difference Between the Reality and Your Thoughts and Feelings

I titled this post “How to Stop Thinking and Start Living” not because I had the answer, but because I was hoping you would. The downside: it keeps me from making big goofs. We learn from mistakes, don’t we? I have a friend who talks about “accelerating your rate of failure.” How can I fail, and fail fast, if I’m thinking too much? The faster I fail, the faster I’ll succeed. A constructive way of dealing with the urge to overthink is to be solution oriented. When you start looping in your thinking, you can ask yourself questions like: You’ve thought of thinking as a process similar to breathing in terms of its automatic nature, and now you should think of thinking as a process similar to dreaming in terms of its reality. Though both are essentially the same, for some reason, we think of dreaming as something false and of our thoughts as something necessarily right. Scientists agree that emotions are the most common cause of fatigue. And it works the other way around, too: fatigue produces more worries and negative emotions, so it’s important to learn how to prevent both fatigue and worry.

1. Stop Thinking Within Limits

The idea that we can control situations if we try hard enough is a false hope in most circumstances. However, because we naturally fear the unknown, it makes sense that we would try to find ways to make it more predictable. This is an unrealistic expectation and actually adds undue stress on our thinking. Once you can come to terms with that fact you cannot control every outcome, you will start to find relief from the need for control. In this case, coming to terms with not being in control will help to alleviate the looped thinking. The idea here is to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. 3. Trying to solve a problem

Finally, you can start thinking positively and, gradually, start changing your feelings as well. Chapter 19: Happiness and Gratitude Because we’ve acquired, through our lives, a set of behaviors which have raised a wall between ourselves and our “healthy psychological functioning.”

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

Arden, we certainly can drive ourselves crazy! At least we have great accountability partners to help us get off the gerbil wheel… 😉 This takes some work, as we need to believe in ourselves and be okay with others not liking us. 4. Not feeling good enough P 19 if you can begin to see that your thoughts are not the real thing – they are just thoughts and thosethoughts they can't hurt you– Your entire life will begin to change 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!

You know how a couple starts acting differently the moment it accepts the fact that it is a couple?

Over-thinking often comes from the notion that you will make a grand finale decision that will never change and must be correct. Thinking negatively is always the wrong choice; because your thoughts govern your feelings and because your feelings are how you experience reality, negative thinking is a surefire way to depression. 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.

2. Learning Can Be a Crutch That Supports Inaction

It’s no surprise that having the misfortune of being treated undesirably leads people to suppress and repress anger toward other people. However, keep this in mind: you’ve already made your decision, so act decisively on it, and dismiss all your anxiety about it. We may also overthink because it gives us a sense of control over a situation. The feeling of being out of control is too uncomfortable and the looping thinking offers a state of doing.