Eye on Faith: November 2019

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Thoughts on Thinking

(Photo by Nicholas A. Tonelli)

The brain is designed to think, which is all well and good until it goes into overdrive.

That’s when the what-ifs and should-haves can do you in. But are there ways to stop them, or at least to slow them down? Psychologists say that there are.

Bruce Hubbard of Columbia University recommends a process called cognitive restructuring. This includes coming up with alternative interpretations of personal situations. Instead of merely focusing upon worst-case scenarios, imagine your way into other possibilities.

Or... you could go for a walk. By concentrating upon sensory input, you’ll escape from your head and enter into the world at large. This can free you from the clutches of a rumination cycle.

Resources

http://thescienceexplorer.com/brain-and-body/6-neuroscience-tips-detox-your-mind-and-stop-overthinking

https://psychologywriting.com/blog/analysis-paralysis-what-is-it-how-to-overcome-as-a-college-student/

Friday, November 29, 2019

Small is Practical

Wait up! (Photo by Phee - pixabay)

If you want to make big changes, start small.

Giant steps often result in mighty falls. Tiny steps can eventually lead to good habits. This means

tackling one thing at a time and breaking it down into doable tasks. Allow “four to six weeks” between each new increment.

Enjoyment and gratitude can enhance progress - a progress that is then more likely to last.

Resources

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-zen-rule-for-becoming-happier-change-one-thing?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Beyond Midlife Crisis

Much is made about the proverbial midlife crisis. It is a time when we seriously question where we’ve been and where we’re going.

But going somewhere, anywhere, seems better than going nowhere. Since 2014, “increased mortality among the middle-aged” has been lowering overall life expectancy within the United States.

Midlife mortality is often caused by “drug overdoses, alcohol abuse, suicides and organ system diseases.” Stress due to hard times is an underlying part of the problem. This seems most prevalent within “northern New England and the Ohio Valley.”

Resources

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-life-expectancy-idUSKBN1Y02C7