It has been estimated that we have approx. 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts a day (approx. 2500 per hour). Although we can’t control the presence or content of automatic thoughts, we can decide whether or not to run away with them.
In our fast-paced digital information world, it is easy to question ourselves and our decisions; losing the voice within.
Today I woke up to a sunny morning and the thought of going to the beach popped into mind, followed by thoughts of ‘can I be bothered?’. Maybe I could run errands instead? a process that continues adfinitum.
Sometimes, it helps to channel out of your head and into your body. What’s going to be more beneficial? Some fresh air? The errands? Or doing nothing? How do each of these options make you feel in your gut? Tuning into the body might seem foreign or hard to do at first, but with practice, this can help you to unite your connection with the external world. In acceptance and commitment therapy, a third wave psychotherapy, it can sometimes help to accept the nature of unhelpful thoughts whilst continuing to move in the direction of what’s personally important.
The saying “sometimes you just have to not think, not wonder, not imagine and not obsess. Just breathe and hope for the best” comes to mind.
How does your mind convince you to over-think, question yourself or fixate? The next time you find yourself in a similar situation, could you try to connect with your intuition, your voice within?
Hasten to add I listened to my body and went to the beach. Happy to say I was glad that I did and the benefits were reaped.
