Scientific studies report that more than 6,000 thoughts pass through a person’s mind each day.
What science says about your thoughts
In 2020, two researchers at Queen’s University in Canada found a way to detect in the brain the moment one thought ends and another begins. With that method they estimated that the average person goes through about 6,200 thoughts a day. The study doesn’t say whether they’re good or bad: it only counts how often the mind changes subject. Another study does speak to content: in a Penn State study of people with generalized anxiety, more than 90% of the worries they wrote down never came true.
Consciously or not, our thoughts guide our actions and form the matrix in which our emotions take shape.
How can we use the power of thought in our favor? One crucial step is practicing connection with the here and now, one of the pillars of Gestalt therapy. That way we can become aware of the ideas circulating through our minds and start untangling the thread.
We need to notice if the mind is leaning too heavily toward the future and toward imagined situations that can easily lead to feelings of fear and anxiety.
In the same way, when the mind frequently returns to the past, it disconnects from the vital force of the present moment and generates feelings of sadness.
Suggestions for quieting the mind
Even though it’s hard to step out of the maze in the middle of a negative emotional state, anyone willing can try, and here are a few suggestions:
Mindfulness. Simple exercises that practically connect you with the vitality of the present moment.
Conscious breathing. A simple, powerful practice for calming the mind and increasing your connection with the here and now. Proper oxygenation also provides an almost instant sense of wellbeing.
Yoga. A practice centered on breathing and body postures that reduce tension, ease the mind, and bring about a state of general relaxation while boosting energy and physical flexibility.
Healthy eating, rich in vitamins and minerals, while cutting back on caffeine and foods that stimulate the nervous system.
If you feel like you overthink everything and want to learn to be more present, let’s talk.
You can read more about how I work in Gestalt therapy in Barcelona and online.