Do you ever wake up and feel like your life is just a haze of bad thoughts? Maybe it’s not even that bad. Maybe your brain has simply become the Thief of Joy and steals it from you every day. But don’t worry! You’re not alone and there are ways to get through this. This used to be how I woke up most days in a haze of bad thoughts and then it would spiral out of control as the day went on. Let’s break down what happens when your thoughts overtake your life so we can learn more about how to beat them back:
Overthinking
Overthinking we all do it, some people more so than others but it can become a really unhealthy habit. Especially if your overthinking leads to catastrophizing about things that might never happen. Overthinking is a form of rumination, and it can be harmful to your mental health. When you overthink, you’re often thinking about things that are out of your control. This can lead to depression and anxiety as well as low self-esteem and low energy levels. Sound Familiar?
Do your thoughts overtake your life?
Overthinking is a mental habit. It can be likened to other bad habits, such as smoking or biting your nails, in that it can lead to negative thoughts. When you overthink, your brain begins to analyse things that don’t need analysis and this can lead to negative thoughts about yourself and others. These negative thoughts will then make you feel bad about yourself which will cause more overthinking because it’s all part of the vicious cycle! Most people who do this often feel as though they are going round and round in circles and often feel very stuck.
Your thoughts are not facts. Don’t believe everything you think
Negative thoughts are not facts. You cannot control other people or the future, but you can control your present. It’s so easy for people to say things such as “Don’t worry about things that are out of your control and stay positive!” but it’s just not as easy as that when you’re stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts. What you can do though is recognise the habit and take a step forward to create change.
By taking action to create change in the negative thoughts by reaching out and finding the most appropriate help for you can be life changing. The first step is to realise that your thoughts are not real, they are just in your mind. Once you understand that, then it becomes easier to ignore them or even change them into something more positive!
How Gratitude practice can help
Something that I found incredibly beneficial in creating a change to my overthinking and negative thought loops was to practice gratitude. Creating a healthy habit everyday by expressing what I was truly grateful for really made a change. Expressing gratitude is being mindful of the things around us and parts of our lives that we normally overlook or might take for granted. It is simply noticing and appreciating, it allows us to remain in the now. Gratitude is believed to be one of the healthiest emotions that we can practice. Being grateful is the kindest gesture that you can show for what you have and value.
Create a new habit
Start a Gratitude list, it’s free, easy and is something that can have an impact on those negative thought patterns. Go buy yourself a new pad. Any excuse for new stationary in my opinion is a win. Then simply start, I write down as many things I can think of that I am grateful for, almost every day. It really is a great way to train your brain to look more at the positives in your life.