7 Simple remedies for overthinking

Sometimes we perceive a problem…

He’s not calling me like I wish he would.

Where will the money come from to pay for this?

How will we survive the changing climate?

Am I beautiful enough?

And we naturally want to solve problems.

But how…?

For most of us, we rely on the loudest and seemingly smartest apparatus we have.

Our mind.

That wonderful center of intelligence that’s responsible for logic, reason and planning.

And without surprises, for smart people, the mind works very well. So it’s even easier to resort to that center of intelligence when life throws a problem — and even easier to get stuck in there.

But while the mind has its genius, it’s not a Swiss army knife. It doesn’t always have the right tools at the right time. 

The mind is brilliant for assessing and comparing, planning and strategizing. It’s excellent at scanning the past and asserting possible futures. But this is not what we need at all times and it’s certainly not where we want to spend our time. Otherwise we end up feeling anxious, disconnected and frazzled.

On the other hand, if we allow ourselves to rest more in our body and heart, we are in the present moment…

Breath in.

Breath out.

And here, you can find deeper levels of relaxation.

Highs and lows of the day are easier to digest.

You have stronger self-trust and connection to your intuition.

There’s more flow in sex and intimacy.

You become magnetic with more power charisma. 

So, how to stop that moneky-mind from overthinking?

7 Simple Remedies for Overthinking

1. Focus on what’s good and working (resourcing)

For a few minutes, bring your attention to a time, place, or thing that makes you feel *good*. 

It might be physical or immaterial, inside you or outside you. Examples could be…

A wonderful memory
The feeling of the chair or ground beneath you
Your breath
Your heartbeat
A wonderful place in nature you really love
Your heart or soul
Your Higher Self
A beloved animal

Notice the image in your mind and then tune into feeling sensations. How does your body feel?

Stay with that for a few minutes — this lets your nervous system recalibrate and you relaaaax.

2. Do something that puts you in your body and flow every day

This means you’re not thinking, you’re just fully immersed with energized focus. You’re fully in and it feels good.

This could mean doing things like… 

Spending time animals and children
Being in nature
Playing sport
Dancing
Making music
Self pleasuring and loving making

You tell me :)

3. Start and end your day with a moment of feeling your heart

When you wake up and fall asleep, you’re in a very powerful moment between being conscious and unconscious. This gives you special access to your sub-conscious which is where 95% of your programs play from (things from childhood, for better or worse).

If you can bring awareness to this sweet-state, you can have a big impact on your nervous system and subconscious (and therefore YOU).

So, as you’re going to bed and waking up, rather than letting the deluge of thoughts arrive yet or reaching for your phone, spend 30-60 seconds with a hand on your heart and all of your attention on that space.

4. Train your mind daily with micro mindfulness meditations

When you’re chopping carrots, what are you thinking about?

Everything except the carrots, right?

(Emails you need to send. Parents you need to call. And the cat’s are going to the vet when?)

When you’re doing something, let yourself just do that thing. Let your mind focus on that, even for just 30 seconds.

When you’re chopping carrots, just focus on… 

The texture of the carrots.

The smell of the peels.

The sound of the knife clomping.

The feeling of the chopping board.

This is mindfulness in action.

5. Notice the feeling of your soles on the ground

When you’re getting super heady, you’re basically floating up, up and away. To interrupt this, come back down to earth: bring all of your attention to the soles of your feet, where you’re making contact with the ground. Hold your attention there and let your awareness sink back toward the ground (and into your body).

You might like to feel that the earth beneath you is like a magnet that easily draws your floating awareness to it… Surrender to that magnetic force.

6. Be the boss of your mind, not the slave

It’s easy to forget that you’re in charge of your mind. *You* command it which means you’re not a slave to whatever passes through there (or gets stuck).

When you notice yourself thinking and thinking about something, gently command your mind. Let it know that it doesn’t need to think of a solution now — the solution will come in its time.

You can be reassuring, “it’s okay that we stop thinking about this now. You’re trying to find the best solution, but you can trust me”. 

And then after that, any thought that comes about the topic, drop it — don’t engage. 

It’s like a child who wants a candy and keeps yanking on your skirt to remind you. Don’t give in — be the boss and affirm your trust in the solution that will come. 

7. Understand why you overthink

It’s likely a pattern you developed because you think it will protect you from something. What?

Is it based on a belief that there’s never enough?

Is it based on a program that you’re not good enough?

Is it because you learned that you couldn’t trust men?

Is it a pattern you picked up from your parents? 

Find out what that is and then reprogram your mind. Let yourself feel the feelings associated with it the belief, then let go of the belief and replace it with an empowering one. 

Finding the origin is key.

This process helps when you have support, so reach out for 1:1 sessions if this sounds like you.

If there are other remedies for overthinking that you love, let me know! I’m curious to hear. And if you need any support in the field of mind, body, heart or relationships, get in touch about private sessions.