If you’re anything like me, then you must know what it feels like to have a brain that is constantly trying to solve problems. It likes being busy and occupied with finding solutions and reasons for problems in order to help us live better and keep us alive. This is how the human race has survived so long.
When this thinking pattern starts creating problems that do not exist, then things start to feel out of control. Through journaling, I have come to realise my brain has now deafulted to creating problems and is attempting to solve these imaginary problems before they even appear. Well, the biggest disappointment is that most of these problems are improbable that there is no actual evidence to suggest that these will happen. Naturally, this type of thinking led to me having severe anxiety that kept me from functioning efficiently on a daily basis.
Through help and being aware of what is happening in my brain and what I’m feeling and thinking, I have come to a place where I notice these patterns of rumination. I haven’t quite gotten to a point where they don’t trouble me at all anymore, but now when I catch myself doing it — I tell myself
“This is not a problem that exists and it does not need fixing. I can relax and focus on what actually needs to be done”
This practice has helped me to the extent where I do not indulge too much in creating a problem that doesn’t exist. I am also consciously working on accepting these thoughts and letting them pass without any judgment. Because that is the crucial step in overcoming anxiety.
We cannot get rid of the thoughts, they are just random pop-ups in our brain that will continue to show up.
That is the primary function of the brain — generate thoughts and feelings about what we are experiencing. What we do have control over is how I choose to act based on these thoughts. Once we realise that we aren’t defined by the thoughts, rather our actions; we can learn to start letting them go. It is a lot of effort and there will be slip-ups, the important thing to keep in mind is that it is a process and it’s okay that it takes some time. What matters is the fact that you’re trying to do what you can to improve your relationship with yourself.
And in all fairness, there are enough problems in the present moment that need my attention and I don’t need to generate more through my thinking.
