METACOGNITIVE THERAPY, PSYCHOTHERAPY, MENTAL HEALTH, UNWANTED THOUGHTS, ANXIETY MANAGEMENT, STRESS MANAGEMENT, SELF-HELP, META LEARN APP
Unwanted Thoughts - The Power of Doing Nothing
Discover how acknowledging and allowing unwanted thoughts to be present can be more effective than trying to suppress or avoid them.
Introduction: Dealing with unwanted thoughts
We all have unwanted thoughts from time to time, whether they be negative thoughts about ourselves or our circumstances. These thoughts can be distressing and can lead us to try to distract ourselves in order to avoid them. However, this approach is not effective in the long term.
The problem with distraction: Short-term relief, long-term struggle
Trying to avoid unwanted thoughts by constantly distracting ourselves or pushing them away only serves to suppress them temporarily. Eventually, they will resurface and take up even more space in our consciousness. This can lead to feelings of stress and exhaustion as we use a lot of energy trying to keep these thoughts at bay.
Trying to suppress or avoid unwanted thoughts is like trying to hold a tennis ball underwater. Eventually, it will resurface and take up even more space in our consciousness.
A better approach: Allowing thoughts to be present
A more effective approach is to allow the thoughts to be present without reacting to them. This means acknowledging the thoughts and allowing them to pass through your mind without trying to suppress or avoid them. By doing this, the thoughts will occupy less space in your consciousness and require less energy to manage.
Conclusion: A more helpful approach to unwanted thoughts.
In conclusion, while it can be tempting to try to distract ourselves from unwanted thoughts, this approach is not effective in the long term. A more helpful approach is to allow the thoughts to be present without reacting to them, which can help to reduce their power and the energy required to manage them.
The mind is a powerful thing. When we acknowledge and allow unwanted thoughts to be present, we take away their power and reduce the energy required to manage them.
Getting help: Interactive exercises in Meta Learn
If you find it difficult to deal with unwanted thoughts on your own, there are resources available to help. The app Meta Learn offers interactive exercises to help you learn strategies for better mental health. You can download it from the Google Play or App Store.