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#3 How to Stop Obsessive Thoughts
Do you find that the more you try to suppress an unwanted thought, the more you can’t stop thinking it? Or the more you try to stop worrying about something, the more you worry? It’s almost as if your mind is plotting against you.
In today’s show, I describe how the brain’s built-in monitoring process causes you to lose control of your thoughts. We’ll look at several experiments done by Harvard researcher Daniel Wegner that illustrate what happens inside your mind when you try to suppress a thought. I’ll talk about why purposefully trying to prevent thoughts only increases their power. I’ll also show you how having too much on your mind is causing you to focus on all the wrong stuff. Then, I’ll outline five techniques you can use to harness your thoughts, gain better control of your mind, and live more peacefully.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the show!
Resources:
Wegner, D. M. (1994). Ironic processes of mental control. Psychological Review, 101(1), 34-52.
“Suppressing the White Bears.” https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/10/unwanted-thoughts
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GET IN TOUCH WITH VIRGINIA:
Have topics you’d like me to cover? Feel free to email them over to me! And I’d love to hear your feedback on this episode.
https://www.souldrivenpurpose.com
Are you ready to live a life with purpose, on purpose, and for a purpose? Check out my website for all my coaching services: https://www.souldrivenpurpose.com/services
Book a FREE Discovery Call: https://www.souldrivenpurpose.com/packages
Find me on social media to continue the conversation and for even more content:
https://www.instagram.com/souldrivenpurpose
https://www.facebook.com/souldrivenpurpose
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By Virginia Murphy, MS, MSW, BCC - Life Coach for Women
5
1010 ratings
Do you find that the more you try to suppress an unwanted thought, the more you can’t stop thinking it? Or the more you try to stop worrying about something, the more you worry? It’s almost as if your mind is plotting against you.
In today’s show, I describe how the brain’s built-in monitoring process causes you to lose control of your thoughts. We’ll look at several experiments done by Harvard researcher Daniel Wegner that illustrate what happens inside your mind when you try to suppress a thought. I’ll talk about why purposefully trying to prevent thoughts only increases their power. I’ll also show you how having too much on your mind is causing you to focus on all the wrong stuff. Then, I’ll outline five techniques you can use to harness your thoughts, gain better control of your mind, and live more peacefully.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the show!
Resources:
Wegner, D. M. (1994). Ironic processes of mental control. Psychological Review, 101(1), 34-52.
“Suppressing the White Bears.” https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/10/unwanted-thoughts
----------------------------------------
GET IN TOUCH WITH VIRGINIA:
Have topics you’d like me to cover? Feel free to email them over to me! And I’d love to hear your feedback on this episode.
https://www.souldrivenpurpose.com
Are you ready to live a life with purpose, on purpose, and for a purpose? Check out my website for all my coaching services: https://www.souldrivenpurpose.com/services
Book a FREE Discovery Call: https://www.souldrivenpurpose.com/packages
Find me on social media to continue the conversation and for even more content:
https://www.instagram.com/souldrivenpurpose
https://www.facebook.com/souldrivenpurpose