“Why can’t I just stop thinking about this?” “Enough..!!” “Really, again??!!” I often find myself repeating all these words in a vicious loop in my head. I often find myself struggling between spiritua-lity and rea-lity..
Spirituality says “Let it go”, reality says “You are kidding yourself again!”
Obsessing, Overthinking & Overanalysing are the by-products of anxiety which is a by-product of Uncertainty!!
Uncertainty – The Royal Pain
Uncertainty can be an incredibly frustrating, overwhelming, and even paralyzing experience. The harder you try to fight uncertainty, the more it mocks you, pulls you down and sucks the happiness out of the present.
So as soon as the “brain” realises that the “mind” is going into an overdrive, it takes out all its tools and starts “analysing“. Now the main role of “analysing” is to come up with a solution to either solve the problem (Duh..here) or even better, come up with a make-believe plan to delude (aka protect) ourselves from the misery that we are setting ourselves for..(alright..interesting…Thanks Brain!). We get relieved.
However, this relief is only temporary..sigh!
As soon as you convince your mind to “Stop thinking about the future”, “Just go with the flow” or maybe “Its all in God’s hand and you are his child, he won’t do wrong by you”, your tricky mind says (with a devilish grin) “Oh yeah? but what about this _(another pain in the ass uncertain thought).
In hindsight I would like to say “Yea..this one..phew!”
As for me, till now I have thought the worst possible hypothesis of what could go wrong, and how pathetic a person I am etc. But well We are the Survivors aren’t we now (Devilish grin right back at you “Mind”)
So a few strategies to stop over thinking:
Avoid
Like really let’s do it the old fashion way.. avoid thoughts. Sing, play loud music, take a cold shower (even if its winters), go for a run (even if its burning outside). My point is indulge in some activity, move, don’t just sit there..get on it..distract yourself. The purpose is to each your brain that the trigger is NOT dangerous and does not require the warning signal. In a way tell your “mind” to “Shut up!”
Stop trying to answer the worry question
Yes, leave it unresolved. Don’t ask your friends and family whether everything will be okay. Allow the uncertainty to be there. Eventually, you will get used to the uncertain thought and your anxiety will go away. This will actually increase your anxiety because you will no longer be doing the thing that you had been doing to avoid it. Just train the brain here to stop analysing. Easier said than done?! This answer might sound a bit confusing and maybe even crazy right now but….
Wait for it……..
There is a difference between thinking a number in your head and doing the math in your head
Thoughts pop into your head frequently that you do nothing with. For instance, if you see a bright coloured dress, you might think to yourself “that’s a nice dress.” That’s an automatic thought, it just popped up without you trying to do anything. You probably then do nothing with that thought. You do not try to analyse it. That is exactly what you do with Uncertainty thoughts….you do nothing!!
The problem is not the kind of something you try to do with the thought, the problem is just that you are trying to do anything with it.
It’s difficult..these steps, but you got to do what you have to do in order to keep yourself sane. So uncertainty, bring it on..I never back down from a fight anyways….
Peace out…..!!!
Be Inspired..!! 
Thank you for your vulnerability and suggestions. They are intriguing. And I like just letting it go, walk away. I sometimes have to write down my uncertainties to put them someplace. It works sometimes. Blessings!
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Its great to find another person who finds writing as a medium to put the chaotic mind to rest. Thank you very much.
Best to you
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I found this piece to be intelligently written. It nearly inspires me to give up writing the mindless drivel that I write. I struggle with uncertainty in some areas of my life. This is good food for thought.
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This is too good a post, thanks for this. Yes, uncertainty leads to a complex web of never ending thought process and the remedy you suggested is so understandable.
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I wouldn’t say that uncertainty is the royal pain. I would say that uncertainty is the sure sign that we are about to learn something new that is meant for our person and we have to let it happen to acquire its full purpose.
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Well said.
Best to you
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So well written. I’m gonna try a couple of suggestions..avoid n indulge in some activities!
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Good luck. Glad you liked it 🙂
Best to you
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Great gems of wisdom here 🙂
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All good strategies. I use them myself.. when I remember!
Thanks for putting them out there.
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Love this and absolutely beautifully written. It stirs my soul and speaks from my heart. Well said…
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“leave it unresolved”…yes, love this. thank you! does that also go for panic attacks?
Hey thanks for reading my post Life and Wr it in g
and acknowledging it. So nice to share with other writers.
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So beautifully written. It is a daily struggle not to think about things that have not happened yet. We need to halve the number of thoughts we have, then halve that number again and again and again and still we will be having too many thoughts in order to be healthy. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
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Love this post! Uncertainty can be damaging but we just have to find a way to live with it, and your suggested strategies are definitely doable 👍🏼
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Excellent work
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A very well written post 🙂
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Either you can have faith or uncertainty
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Loved your article. As I read it it wad as if you were describing me. I worry way too much abiut things i cant control and at times it steals my joy of being in the moment.
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You are a post-modern Gnostic Philosopher. LOL Enjoyed reading you and how uncertainty lurks in the mind. Anand Bose from Kerala
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Thank you Anand.
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Respect and Peace Out #Optimism
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Best to you 🙂
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Enjoyed reading this post. It’s interactive and i’m relating to it right now, thanks for the insight. Thank you for once again taking the time to read and like my post.
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I too have learned to let tomorrow take care of itself. But just yesterday, I fell prey to worries and my pondering made me so depressed that I thought of suicide!
Then I stumbled upon an old email informing me of new lesson on WorldBibleSchool.org and I decided to go check it out and the lesson stressed on The One, Jesus Christ and I felt so glad that Jesus is the Man for All Seasons that I came back out of my depression and I’m so happy that I don’t need to worry a bit because it’s all Jesus’ problem and He’s up to it!
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Stay positive You!!
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I too have learned to let tomorrow take care of itself. But just yesterday, I fell prey to worries and my pondering made me so depressed that I thought of suicide!
Then I stumbled upon an old email informing me of new lesson on WorldBibleSchool.org and I decided to go check it out and the lesson stressed on The One, Jesus Christ and I felt so glad that Jesus is the Man for All Seasons that I came back out of my depression and I’m so happy that I don’t need to worry a bit because it’s all Jesus’ problem and He’s up to the challenge and more!
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Thank you for all the information. Good article Love and Light from me 🙂 ❤
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Thank you for the love and light.
Best to you too
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O but how do we connect! I tried, tried, tried and tried some more for half of my life time. Then? I quit trying and started trusting our Creator. You’ll think that was it? Hum! Things got 10 times worse. lol. Alright devil! Do your thing! My Master Yahuwah rebukes you. I haven’t got the strength to do so. Back to my journal with the perennial question, Why? At times it gets to be so ridiculous the devil’s attempt to destroy my trust in Father but, I refuse to do anything to retaliate. Father never gives me any more than what I can take. Sometimes? He even laughs for the joy of my obedience in spite of all the mind & soul churning & twisting with the blows from Satan. His delight in my obedience is my strength. Onward I go. Discouraged? Only for a fleeting moment. Thanks for your visit. Thanks for this post. Come again. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Still Another Writer's Blog.
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