Perspectives on Peace of Mind
Overthinking is a problem or situation that can leave your head spinning – and usually no answers are found. It is a problem in itself because it can paralyze us from taking action. There are two perspectives on overthinking that can play havoc with our minds.
Overthinking happens when you get caught in a loop of thinking of one event over and over.
Overthinking decisions – analyzing them to the point where you can’t make a decision anymore.
The goal of these situations is to get out of the overthinking loop and move forward.
How does that happen?
Take action now - when overthinking an idea, you can actually do something about
Direct your attention elsewhere – sometimes you can’t take action, so to stop overthinking, distract your mind
Stop talking about it – in seeking the advice of other people, we get information overload and it becomes impossible not to overthink it; limit information and look at it more productively
Figure out why you are overthinking – Psychology Today notes that even though our brains are often hard-wired to overthink – we can move the process along. Here’s a four step plan to moving on:
Relabel the ideas you are overthinking (self-doubt, anxiety, etc.)
Reframe your experience and identify your thinking errors
Refocus your attention on the part that matters
Revalue your brain messages with the new information then take a step back and look at why you were overthinking, close the loop, and move on. Minimize the thought, make them productive and move on.
How to Stop Overthinking Everything and Find Peace of Mind by T. Klosowski
Peace of Mind When Times Are Tough
There are going to be periods in your life when times are tough. Loved ones die, facing outcomes of bad decisions, and loss of a job can really put you into a tailspin. Thinking clearly is difficult – peace of mind seems unattainable. But there are steps you can take to help you move through this tough time in your life.
Learn to trust yourself: “As you heal and grow, it will all work out. Relax and trust yourself”. Say this quote every morning because it all works out in the end.
Focus on what you are learning: Mistakes and setbacks are simply a form of practice. Sometimes things have to go wrong in order to go right. To never struggle is to never grow.
Ease your expectations: Don’t miss the silver lining because you were expecting gold. You must see and accept things as they are instead of as you hoped, wished, or expected them to be.
Open up to someone you trust: Remember – you are not alone.
Use hope to drive positive action: Only in the dark can you see the stars. The stars are hope. Look for them.
Move TOWARDS something instead of AWAY: By persistently trying to move away from what you don’t want, you are forced to think about it so much that you end up carrying its weight along with you. Focus your energy on moving forward.
Take a few steps back: Everything seems simpler from a distance. Sometimes you simply need to distance yourself to see things more clearly.
Give yourself time: Emotional healing is a process – don’t rush yourself through it. Never let trouble from the past make you feel like you have a bad life now.
Look for the beginning in every ending: Today is a new beginning – treat it that way. Stop thinking about what might have been and start looking at what can be.
Adapted from: 9 Ways to Find Peace of Mind in Tough Times by Angel Chernoff
Chernoff, A. (May 9, 2013). 9 ways to find peace of mind in tough times. Retrieved December 17, 2015 from http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/05/09/9-ways-to-find-peace-in-tough-times/
Klosowski, T. (July 24, 2014). How to stop overthinking everything and find peace of mind? Retrieved December 17, 2015 from http://lifehacker.com/how-to-stop-overthinking-everything-and-find-peace-of-m-1609850688