When I am pondering, I feel dissatisfied. I spend too much time alone. Too much time thinking. There are Eureka moments, but they happen rarely. There is too much time where my mind is wandering.
Thoughts (that can be positive, negative, or neutral) lead to feelings, which in turn lead to behaviours. The time I waste thinking about what to do with my life and being concerned over my financial security leads to feelings of uncertainty and confusion. This in turn leads to the behaviour where I spend more time alone. This then leads to more thinking, creating a vicious cycle.
A major cause of over-thinking and mind wandering is boredom. Most living things constantly seek out sensory stimulation. Animals deprived of naturalistic environments and the mental stimulation that comes with it can fall into repetitive and harmful patterns of behaviour. Chronic boredom correlates with reckless risk taking and depression.
Doubts invade the mind when there is nothing else to fill it. Being present brings joy, whereas over-thinking makes the mind turn inwards and create problems to solve, even if the problems are undefined or unimportant (re: The End of Philosophy).
Stop thinking and get on with the experience of living. Physical activity and talking to people helps me enormously.
I have to remember to read this post when I am thinking too much or when my mind wanders.
Thoughts (that can be positive, negative, or neutral) lead to feelings, which in turn lead to behaviours. The time I waste thinking about what to do with my life and being concerned over my financial security leads to feelings of uncertainty and confusion. This in turn leads to the behaviour where I spend more time alone. This then leads to more thinking, creating a vicious cycle.
A major cause of over-thinking and mind wandering is boredom. Most living things constantly seek out sensory stimulation. Animals deprived of naturalistic environments and the mental stimulation that comes with it can fall into repetitive and harmful patterns of behaviour. Chronic boredom correlates with reckless risk taking and depression.
Doubts invade the mind when there is nothing else to fill it. Being present brings joy, whereas over-thinking makes the mind turn inwards and create problems to solve, even if the problems are undefined or unimportant (re: The End of Philosophy).
Stop thinking and get on with the experience of living. Physical activity and talking to people helps me enormously.
I have to remember to read this post when I am thinking too much or when my mind wanders.
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