Well, I never expected to be taking this turn but since I decided to commit to this blogging challenge so that I could be more obviously spiritual, I am going with the flow. I seem to have started off with thinking less so thinking less it will be.
If we are going to contemplate any sort of change we need to know why we want to make that change. So, why think less? We may be forced into it by personal problems, mental or physical health or world weariness, in which case we already know that we need an altered approach to life. But if not, why bother?
Thinking less makes space. Space in your life for new and exciting things, space in your day for relaxing and recharging, and space in your soul for peace. With more space in our selves, our lives and our days, we become much more open to the unexpected and we find it easier to accept uncertainty and to suspend judgment, thus avoiding the pain of resistance.
Thinking less allows you to use your mind, body and spirit in other ways. Creativity, inspiration and enhanced intuition do not come from logical thought; in fact, logical thought can suppress all of those valuable attributes. I know because that is how I lived for a long time. Believing in the supremacy of my intellect meant that I never gave my quite considerable creative ability a look in, and I ignored any intuitive thoughts as silly or irrational.
Thinking less gives you your life back. If you think too much it is likely that you have a less than great relationship with your body, perhaps only taking notice of it when it misbehaves or doesn’t look how you want it to. Live in your whole body rather than just your head and find out how much fun it is to be a human being in a human body, a lot of the time! You may also have forgotten how to play, how to potter, how to just be, how to enjoy nature, how to live. Get the picture?
There is so much to gain and, actually, nothing to lose because no-one will suggest you should stop planning, working, learning, and interacting wherever appropriate. I’m just inviting you to do a little less of the unnecessary thinking that so many of us fill our lives with. In the next few days I’ll share some of the strategies I’ve used to get out of my head and enrich my life with the benefits I’ve talked about today.
If you are a current or past over-thinker, please do share your experience in the comments box. And if you have questions, I’d be delighted to address them – if I can – in a future post.
Thinking less gives you freedom. Freedom to be who you really are, freedom to explore new things, to delve deep within yourself to see what’s there without the judgement that thinking too much brings. I could learn to love thinking less…great post again, really enjoyed reading it, thank you. Andrea
Thank you, what you say is so true. Letting go of judgment is such liberation isn’t it?
I agree Harriet, thinking less does rock! It took me a while to discover how to think less but I did it. Now every now and then I find myself pondering what it was I used to think about so much. Life is so much more peaceful now :)
Thanks Kama. Yes when I look back at what my worried mind used to be like I am horrified and exhausted! :-)
Yes! I view this as quieting the mind- taking it into another state where I can access Universal Mind. It’s so needed in the overload of information we all experience…to just sit in silence and allow our spirit to speak to us :)
Absolutely. Being still and quiet and listening is so important but so easy to forget. We are encouraged to have a busy, doing type of life and there are few reminders just to be still.
Thank you for sharing this post Harriet. I agree that overthinking can really block me from allowing amazing things to show up in my life. But I also love a good day of planning and organizing for the week ahead as it’s helpful for me to know what it expect. At the same time I can choose to remain open to something even better. :)
Yes people sometimes assume that when I say I don’t worry then I don’t plan, analyse etc. In fact it’s much easier to do those things well when we’re doing them in a mindful way, isn’t it? Thanks for your comment.
I found that just letting the universe gently nudge me in a direction has been wonderful.
That’s a lovely way of putting it; thank you :-)
Less thinking, more contemplation in my heart space. That’s my way forward!
Much calmer, less frenzied and better decisions made!
I know you do that Rosemary – I watch you and I know it’s the way to live. Thanks for your wonderful example xx
I am an INFJ personality type and my brain is always on overload thinking about anything and everything. I am also a creative so there is another aspect of my personality that keeps me always thinking of things. Thinking of blog posts to write, looking into creative endeavors to get involved in. The sky is the limit as to what I think about on a daily basis.
I do try to quiet my mind by playing mindless games on Facebook or on my phone. It helps a lot.
Yes, sounds like me too! I hadn’t thought of using games like that but I can get lost in a crossword so I suppose that’s similar. Thanks for your comment.