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/

Copyright November 30, 2019 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved