Are You A Think-A-Holic? July 3, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, Life Balance, Mindfulness.trackback
Source: Dharma Comics ~ Thinkaholic
To learn more about Dharma Comics (after taking a delightful stroll through the gallery), click HERE.
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Spirit Lights The Way 
Yes, I think way too much! In fact, I’ve even been known to think myself in ever-decreasing circles.
Ever-decreasing circles may be better than ever-expanding circles with no end in sight. 😯
When our thoughts spiral out of control, telling ourselves to “stop thinking about stupid pink elephants” rarely works ~ it’s hard to sit and meditate without stewing in our own juices when we’re agitated. But we can “change the channel.”
If we give ourselves something interesting to contemplate, many of the non-productive thoughts are drowned out:
“Can you hear me now?” screams the pink elephant.
“Nope. Sorry. Busy. I’m making a list of every book I’ve ever read. Ta ta. Arrivederci. Toodles.”
YES! No doubt about it. Not proud of it either. I am much better at changing the channel now and CH usually nudges me in the right direction.
Once we realize we CAN change the channel, it gets easier and easier . . . as long as we remember to do it (or have a CH around to nudge us in the right direction).
Two of my favorite thoughts from Zen Living For Idiots:
Here’s to cleaning out our attics and dropping off all the stuff we don’t need.
I LOVE Zen Living for Idiots! .. 😉
Zen Living is the best way I’ve discovered to declutter thoughts that shake, rattle, and roll around.
They do make a point, now and Zen!
Yes! Here and now . . . now and Zen! Good one, Col.
I think, I think… but it might be daydreaming… or playing hunt the glasses! 😉
My grandmother called daydreaming, “wool gathering.” I call it “creative visualization” ~ it sounds more impressive.
“creative visualization” I like the sound of that! I might adopt the phrase. 😀
In like vein, I say I’m “on sabbatical” rather than admitting that I’m just lazy. 😛
Guilty!
What? No plea bargaining?
I never knew a stick figure could look so much like me.
Dharma Comics captures (and captivates) many of us with their all-encompassing stick figures. 😉
Guilty!
Or as Popeye used to say, “I yam what I yam.” 😉
it’s like looking in to a mirror
“Mirror, Mirror, on the wall . . . who’s the thinking-est thinker of them all?” 😛
Lol – clever
I’m going to vote for Rodin’s statue, “The Thinker.” That guy’s been pondering and puzzling for more than a century!
I suspect that most writers and blogger types are thinkaholics. We’re a special blend of insecure exhibitionists who are compelled to share out ideas and writings and then spend the next day or week between posts wondering if we should be embarrassed about and ashsamed of what we wrote.
I’m not exactly a thinkoholic as depicted in the cartoon, because I’m not that worried about what people think of me or if I made the right choice (I know I made the wrong choice. It’s a given). I tend to obsess more over what I should be doing.
Yup. I don’t want to stop thinking, but I do want to exercise control over the thoughts I think, rather than letting them wander around on “auto-pilot” getting into all sorts of mischief).
When we control our thoughts, we become the master of our domain, instead of being relegated to the co-pilot seat.
My brain refuses to listen! I don’t know what to do.
“Captain. We have a hijacking in process.”
“Any hostages?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think we should do about it.”
“Hmm . . . go along for the ride?”
“Capital idea!”
“Aye, aye, captain!”
Yes, I definitely am…I over think most everything.
Well, as you can see, you are in good company.
Or bad company.
Hmm . . . which is it?
I’m not sure.
I wonder if I can look that up somewhere.
Why do we “look things up” and “track things down”?
Wow. Good question.
Let’s google it!
I’m so glad you have now introduced me to Dharma Comics. I just subscribed. Yes, I can be a think-a-holic. I continue to learn techniques for turning off that hamster in the wheel lurking in my mind, but if I don’t stay alert to tell it to STOP, it starts running. 🙂 What often works for me is just realizing how much energy that drains, and being mindful to the fact that I don’t really have unlimited energy!
Yay! Another Dharma Comics fan. Their comics rock!
Yes!!! When my “monkey mind” is chattering and chittering and yabbering on with no signs of slowing, I often tune it out by following my breath.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Or I just watch my surroundings . . . tuning in to sights, sounds, smells, tastes (my favorite!), and textures! Mindful eating is almost always more fun than Mindless thinking.
I am absolutely a think-a-holic… trying to curb the impulse to think too much about things that are no good to think about.
Good luck breaking that habit, Maggie. Some things are “no good to think about.”
Yes, yes, oh, yes, I am a think-a-holic! There I admtted it! 😀 I like your suggestion in the comments to contemplate something interesting to drown out the thoughts.
I have seriously been working on taming my mind and I regularly sit in a delicious spot in the living room where I can hear the fish tank and use the recliner. I then do not attempt to stop my thoughts, I simply become the observer of my mind; this helps me to not identify with my thoughts and the thoughts stop. I sometimes feel my body relaxing as the mind slows down.
Awesome! When we step into the role of “detached observer” we relax and unwind without chasing after the thoughts swirling through our mind. We see thoughts arise and watch them drift away (like clouds) without getting mangled up in tangled up knots. Aah . . .
This is certainly me, Nancy (and probably why I spent my entire time at school gazing out the window) 😉
Our teachers probably did just the same . . . especially as holidays and summer break approached (or the weekend rolled around).
I don’t know if I am a think-a-holic or not. If I am it only happens at night when I am trying to go to sleep. Drives me nuts!
Perhaps you’re a part-time think-a-holic? During the day, you’re much too busy to get bogged down in the mire of endless loops of loosely connected thoughts.
You go with the flow and live in the moment.
Ignored, your thoughts conspire against you, agreeing that as soon as you climb into bed that night they’ll toss thoughts your way that you can’t ignore and keep your tossing and turning.
No? Oh, maybe that’s just me.
Could be…we are complex creatures.
Indeed. Hope you’re having a pleasant 4th!
Moi? Never!
“Pensez-vous?”
“Mais, non!”
Hello, my name is Shree and I’m a think-a-holic! Though at times I sure wish I’d have thought thoroughly before saying or doing something! LOL!
Well, that’s the thing, isn’t it?
Our monkey minds think about this and that, swinging from one thought to the next as if they were vines in the rain forest. They don’t bother to finish thinking about THIS thought before they start thinking about THAT thought. And then, THE OTHER THING butts into the conversation and so it goes.
Yes, I am. Time to let go and let Spirit have its way.
It’s good to quiet our thoughts and tune in to intuition from time to time. We benefit from the shift in perspective.
To me it always feels like moving closer to the centre of everything. The hub.
Yes! Like being plugged into a central power source to recharge our batteries with calm certainty.
Just one question: is there a think-a-holics anonymous? It seems a lot of us need to join. I overthink EVERYTHING finding associations and wandering off on tangents all the time.
Oh, I just thought of another question (sorry, I’m over-thinking again): Are more women that men think-a-holics? Is it gender specific?
Anyone????
Sorry. I can’t answer either of your questions right now . . . I’m too busy wandering off on tangents.
That is me!
It seems to be making the rounds. 😀
Oh yes, I am a think-a-holic. I’m not to the stage where I will seek help, though 🙂
Baby steps. 😉
Think more productive than non-productive thoughts. Keep angst out of the equation. Use your noggin as the tool it is.
Haha, that’s me, especially when I lay down in bed as I try to fall asleep. Or worse, if my bladder wakes me up in the middle of the night. That’s why meditation is so hard for me, but I really need to try it out.
I have much greater control over my thoughts (and my life) as a result of practicing meditation. You learn not to believe everything you think . . . and not to get caught up in every passing “cloud.” Definitely a good practice to institute. If you need any tips, check out the Meditation links in the Blog Roll OR just type meditation or mindfulness into the search bar.
Thanks, I’ll look into it. Hopefully I have a little time to start this in August. Right now, life is being very chaotic and I just do what I can to keep my head above the water. 🙂
When you start a meditation practice, don’t plan to sit down for 30-45-60 minutes. Start with 5 minutes (set a timer) and just WATCH your thoughts arise. Don’t chase after them. Don’t buy into them. Just watch them appear and drift away as the next one appears on the horizon.
Another 5 minute exercise . . . just watch your breath. In. Out. In. Out. You can do it anywhere ~ while walking, while waiting in line at the bank, or just before sleep. OR do a whole body scan. Just check in with your feet (“how are you feeling”), then your ankles, knees, thighs, shoulders, arms, hands, leg. Put everything else OUT of your mind.
5 minutes… I can try that. Thanks!
Good luck. Once you start to perceive the benefits, you’ll want to extend it from 5 minutes to 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
It’s more relaxing than taking a nap. Unless you’re really tired. In which case, you’ll probably just fall asleep. That’s OK too.