The Overthinking Cure

You’ll know it’s mental chatter when:
It goes round and round in a loop that never stops
It’s often negative/pessimistic
It prevents you from solving problems, rather than helps you
It makes you feel distracted and disconnected
It’s based in the past or future, and not the present
Most crucially: it increases anxiety while decreasing beneficial action

No More Daydreaming, No More Excuses

Underneath that, write down as many options and opportunities you can identify.

Once you’ve put your fears down on paper, look at them, and acknowledge them. Acknowledge how you feel about them. But then, take action.

No More Reacting, Only Responding

what action can I take? Breathe deeply and carry on, feeling how much calmer and in control you feel.

No More Blaming or Complaining
Whining about the weather. Gossiping about that person at work who annoys you. Listing a family member’s faults to another family member. Going on a ten-minute rant to a friend about how mad you are to get that speeding fine you didn’t deserve. And on and on. We all do it.

Nothing good ever comes of complaining! You may think you feel a bit better after whining about something you’re unhappy with, but all you do is disempower yourself further (and probably bore others).

Let’s return to the question: who is in control of your life?

only ones who are empowered to do so.