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Writer's pictureThe Sunshine Box

Three ways to stop overthinking



Are you like me in that I can overthink how things are going to turn out? Having conversations in my head, imagining all the potential problems?


Overthinking is one of the biggest barriers to mental wellbeing.


Overthinking can create problems that weren’t even there or may not even happen in the first place.


Most of the problems we imagine are fear based and don’t help us – although we expect that by overthinking we are preparing or protecting ourselves in some way.


So how can we stop overthinking?


1. Focus on the positive outcome of this situation- By shifting your focus to a happy or successful resolution, you can start to retrain your mind to think more positively. Visualise the positive outcome again and again.


2. Repeat a calming mantra - most overthinking centres around something you have to do or what someone said that made you angry or anxious. You can counter the negative, stress-inducing thoughts with simple, peaceful words.

Anytime you feel a bout of anxiety coming on, introduce calming words into your awareness, such as: Tranquil. Calm. Peaceful. Serenity. Light. Love. Relaxing. Breeze. Beach. The last two words in the sequence describe scenery, which you can do as well if it makes you feel peaceful.


3. Keep your mind in the present - forget about the errands you have to run after work, or the bills you have to pay next week, or the uncertainty of your future that you haven’t even gotten to yet.


When you let thoughts like these ruminate, it can lead to anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and other serious problems.


Most anxiety is caused by simply living in a time other than the one we have right now, so bring yourself back to the present whenever you feel your thoughts taking you elsewhere.

By allowing yourself to flow from one moment to the next, just as you did as a child, you will recapture what it means to feel true peace.

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