THE OVERTHINKING TRAP
Paralysis by analysis is slowing you down and preventing you from finding happiness.
But how do you recognise, and more importantly, overcome it?
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Paralysis by analysis is slowing you down and preventing you from finding happiness.
But how do you recognise, and more importantly, overcome it?
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RUMINATION
This evolutionary instinct was of great benefit to our ancestors. Dwelling on unpleasant events allowed them to avoid similar situations in the future. It was a form of self-preservation.
This evolutionary instinct was of great benefit to our ancestors. Dwelling on unpleasant events allowed them to avoid similar situations in the future. It was a form of self-preservation.
However, such was their need to keep moving and hunting, they didn’t tend to spend more time than necessary ruminating on bad experiences.
THE BRAIN
Once rumination becomes a mental habit, the brain begins to look for solutions to problems that can’t be solved.
Once rumination becomes a mental habit, the brain begins to look for solutions to problems that can’t be solved.
For example, replaying a bad memory and wishing you could change the past, or worrying excessively about things that you cannot fully control, such as what other people think of you.
MODERN LIFE
The average person in 2022 has far fewer problems and much more time than our distant ancestors.
An overactive mind exaggerates the significance of small problems, or creates problems that don’t exist.
The average person in 2022 has far fewer problems and much more time than our distant ancestors.
An overactive mind exaggerates the significance of small problems, or creates problems that don’t exist.
EXAMPLES
Ever felt that someone was acting distant towards you, and then worried excessively that they didn’t like you, or that you had offended them in some way?
Ever felt that someone was acting distant towards you, and then worried excessively that they didn’t like you, or that you had offended them in some way?
Ever felt a twinge of pain, and immediately panicked that it was something serious, without any real evidence?
This is what rumination does to the modern human.
This is what rumination does to the modern human.
RUMINATION BECOMES ROUTINE
Over time, you begin to dwell on more and more little problems that might or might not exist. These useless thoughts consume you, and drain the enjoyment from your life.
You want to eliminate them, but can’t escape from your brain.
So what to do?
Over time, you begin to dwell on more and more little problems that might or might not exist. These useless thoughts consume you, and drain the enjoyment from your life.
You want to eliminate them, but can’t escape from your brain.
So what to do?
1. BE LIKE OUR ANCESTORS
The benefit of rumination is not to beat ourselves up over the past, but to inform the future.
The benefit of rumination is not to beat ourselves up over the past, but to inform the future.
Instead of asking yourself, “Why did I say something so ridiculous?”, ask “What can I learn from this experience to ensure I say something better next time?”
The first question has no answer and thinking about it will only destroy your confidence.
The first question has no answer and thinking about it will only destroy your confidence.
The second can positively affect your life, as it allows you to use your past to shape your future.
You will grow in confidence, as you know that it is within your control to turn a bad experience into something good.
You will grow in confidence, as you know that it is within your control to turn a bad experience into something good.
2. JOURNAL
Our goal is to accept our negative thoughts as they are, and not to spend time ruminating on them. The cathartic power of journaling is a highly effective way of doing this.
Journaling has the effect of enabling you to ‘remove’ the negative thoughts from your head.
Our goal is to accept our negative thoughts as they are, and not to spend time ruminating on them. The cathartic power of journaling is a highly effective way of doing this.
Journaling has the effect of enabling you to ‘remove’ the negative thoughts from your head.
Seeing your worries on paper allows you to look at them as if you were an external observer, and removes much of the emotion from the situation.
Rumination is strongly tied to emotion. Journaling is the best way to see that your thoughts have no power if you don’t react to them.
Rumination is strongly tied to emotion. Journaling is the best way to see that your thoughts have no power if you don’t react to them.
3. TALK TO SOMEONE
This advice is classic because it works. Sharing your worries with a trusted person can open your eyes to how silly they are.
HOWEVER, the person must be a caring, yet no-nonsense type, who will tell you in no uncertain terms that your worry is unnecessary.
This advice is classic because it works. Sharing your worries with a trusted person can open your eyes to how silly they are.
HOWEVER, the person must be a caring, yet no-nonsense type, who will tell you in no uncertain terms that your worry is unnecessary.
This person must not indulge you too much, otherwise they are just facilitating your overthinking, rather than helping to end it.
You ARE mentally strong enough to stop ruminating.
You HAVE all of the tools that you need.
You CAN be happy again.
You just need to recognise overthinking, and take active steps to stop it.
You HAVE all of the tools that you need.
You CAN be happy again.
You just need to recognise overthinking, and take active steps to stop it.
Thank you for reading. If you found this thread beneficial, I would appreciate if you would RT the first tweet, and follow @PensiveProfess for more actionable advice.
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