It is so uncanny that thinking is good but not overthinking. Well, there is a saying excess of anything is harmful. Therefore Excess of thinking is also harmful to our mental health. Overthinking has only disadvantages and it can refrain your brain from ever coming up with positive thoughts. Do you ever wonder why overthinking makes you more worried and stressed? Because overthinking concentrates only on the negative aspects of any situation. So how to overcome it is a big question.
How to stop overthinking?
Many people ask themselves why I overthink? And they never get an answer from themselves. There are different causes of overthinking. It may be because of anxiety, or fear. But the good thing is we can control our emotions. So here are several ways to stop overthinking.
Let go of bad past experiences
Overthinkers often dwell in the past. And that’s the root cause of the problem. Let go of your past. Learn from your mistakes and move on. You can’t change your past. And yes, not everything will end up like your past experience. Don’t let your bad experience control you and your decisions. Forgive and forget is the key to your well-being. So, the first step to stop overthinking is letting go of your past experiences.
Awareness is the key
Before coping up with your habit of overthinking, you need to learn to be aware of it when it’s happening. Anytime you find yourself worried and stressed, step back and look at the situation and how you are reacting to it. That moment of awareness is what will bring change. Remind yourself you are overthinking and relax your mind. And take a breath.
Change your story
Do you even realize that we all tell stories to ourselves? Now the question is does that story empowers you or not?because those stories have a great impact on our thinking. Overthinkers may find themselves telling that they have always been more anxious than everybody or they have always been a worrier. These stories or thoughts hold you back. So whenever you catch yourself telling these wrong beliefs about yourself. Immediately change that story and replace them with positive ones. If you change your story and replace it with positive ones, you can change your life. Motivate yourself and remember the instances where you excelled in something. And also make yourself think that whatever happens is just ok. Whether you fail or pass, at least be proud that you tried.
Concentrate more on solutions
It’s great when you identify the problem. But that doesn’t make your work done. Think of a solution. Use your power and energy on solutions rather than concentrating on your problems. For instance, if you feel overthinking is due to your work stress, rethink your career. If you are not there where you wanted to be, set goals for yourself. Every problem has a solution. Also, if there is something you can’t change, simply leave it and move on. If you can change then change it. Simple as that.
Put your best efforts and relax
The biggest fear an overthinker has that they aren’t good enough or smart or hardworking, etc. Many deprecating thoughts come to your mind about yourself. So put your best efforts and leave it to the rest. Once you put your efforts then accept it as such. While success may depend on many things that you can’t control. So don’t get upset and leave it but make sure you give your 100%. Because making luck your excuse can hinder your growth.
Count your blessings
Yes, this is the best way to think positively. There are many things around you should be grateful for. So, count your blessings. Ignore bad things that happen because that’s what life is. There are ups and downs. So if you feel low, count your blessings and be happy that you are lucky than many other people in the world.
So this is how you can stop overthinking. These are certain ways you can give it a shot to stop over analyzing situations in your life. I hope you find this article helpful.