o
Practicing mindfulness helps us ground ourselves
back to reality and the present world when we wander a bit too far. It also
allows us to “catch” the thoughts when it warps into brooding instead of
reflection – going into the process of “catching” these thoughts, acknowledging
mistakes without judging the self and then letting it go.
o
Be ready to acknowledge that some
ruminating thoughts have no solution or may never have a closure – all you need
is your own acceptance of the self
ü Distractions
o
When flowing down the ruminating cycle of
brooding, try distracting yourself by engaging in healthy and constructive
distractions that improve and boost your emotional, physical, and social
wellbeing such as listening to a song, listening to a podcast, self-help YouTube
channels, exercise, gardening or even calling a good friend for a chat.
o
Avoid mindless distractions that do not
add value into your life such as engaging in unhealthy drinking habits,
substance abuse, or mixing with the wrong type of friends
ü Steps
to Take Note of:
o
Look for the Purpose behind these Ruminating Thoughts
§ Some
ruminating thoughts can be transformed into something meaningful
o
Identify the Reason
§ Why
are these thoughts cycling in the mind?
§ Determine
changes or the acceptances of the reason of the ruminating thought
§ Avoid
comparing your struggles or these ruminating thoughts with others – Everyone’s
journey to healing is different
o
Implement into Life
§ Write
meaningful notes that remind the self about the ruminating thoughts
§ Share
your thoughts and opinions to a good friend or family member
§ Write
down 10 wonderful and meaningful things you learned in a day
§ Be
willing and courageous to invite your fears into the open space
ü Interpersonal
Therapy
o
A more professional and certified method to
deal with severe ruminating thoughts that an individual struggles with. Interpersonal
Therapy works with the individual through his or her unresolved grief, the lack
of finding a purpose in life, handling conflict between friends, colleagues, or
family members as well as challenging life transitions such as divorce, moving
to a new city or working in a new company.
o
Working through with an individual by
implementing specific treatment strategies to identify and target issues as
well as continuous homework, assessments, and personal interviews by the
therapist or counsellor in sessions.
However, when these reflection becomes a constant buzzing in your mind to the point that you began brooding over the negative feelings and memory without coming to any sort of conclusion, acceptance, or solution, it may prove to be harmful to your mindset and may impair future decision-making and judgment skills.
When working with yourself, always remember to be kind.

