Escape The Overthinking Trap

Press the Pause Button on Your Overthinking Mind. Feel like you're constantly stuck in a cycle of tangled thinking? Discover how to break down the cycle of overthinking and how you can press the "stop button."

This lighthearted talk offers a fresh perspective and practical strategies to help you hit the pause button and reclaim your mental well-being.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to this audio from Jane Grey.

I spent years living from a place of fear and stress due to chronic overthinking until I learned to live life with a lighter heart.

Insight is a powerful thing.

Seeing something fresh and new often happens for me when I'm listening to a story.

And my hope for you today is that you hear something in this story that will allow you to have your own insight about the nature of thought,

So that you can press the stop button on your overthinking mind.

I was just about to step onto the ascending escalator in King's Cross Station in London when I became aware of a commotion on the descending escalator next to me.

A woman had stumbled at the bottom of the escalator and she was unable to stand up.

I went to help her and tried to get her to her feet.

All of my attention was on the fallen woman,

As she'll now be called,

And how I could help her.

The two people immediately behind the fallen woman had cabin-sized suitcases with them.

The guy managed to jump over the fallen woman,

But his female companion didn't make it and so she also stumbled.

So now there were two people,

Some bags and a suitcase at the bottom of the escalator.

The people behind were all visibly pushing themselves backwards because they could see the chaos that was about to ensue when they reached the obstacle at the bottom of the escalator.

And then someone pressed the stop button.

We were able to help the fallen woman to her feet so she could move along and everyone else was then able to go on their way too.

As I was relating this story to a friend the following day,

She said to me,

Jane,

Why didn't you press the stop button?

And the honest answer was that it never crossed my mind.

I was far too busy trying to sort out the problem in front of me.

I was so focused in and down on clearing the problem that nothing else came to mind.

Imagine what would have happened if the stop button had not been pressed.

And if I'd still been there trying to sort out the problem,

How much more difficult that would have become as more and more people fell at the bottom of the escalator.

And that's when it hit me.

That whole scenario reminded me of how we think.

Imagine for a moment that the escalator represents life.

It's always moving.

And imagine the people who get on and off the escalator are thoughts.

So throughout the course of a day,

Thoughts come along,

They get on the escalator of life and they move down and then they get off and go on their way.

That's how it's supposed to work.

Thoughts pop in and then they pop out again.

Perfect.

Until one of those thoughts trips us up.

It causes us a problem.

We begin to focus in on that problem at the bottom of the escalator.

And before we know it,

A lot more thoughts have joined it and they all begin to pile up in a tangled mess.

And what we tend to do is we focus in and try and sort out the problem.

It takes all our attention and focus and it's exhausting.

In that moment,

We've forgotten that there is a stop button.

And the stop button is a button that we can press at any time.

Once we do,

We can stand up and breathe and allow all of those tangled thoughts to settle and move along.

And then when we're ready,

We can press the start button and begin again.

So where is the stop button?

I hear you ask.

Well,

The stop button can be different things to different people,

But it's something that will allow you to return to the present moment.

That might be focusing on your breath.

It could be focusing your attention on the soles of your feet.

You might choose to stand up and move your body to some music with full awareness.

Or you might even go and take a shower or go for a walk.

Whatever it is that helps you to come back to where your body is and where life is happening right now is a way of pressing that stop button.

And please remember to celebrate the moment that you realize that you've been stuck at the bottom of the escalator.

That aha moment in and of itself is miraculous and it's a wonderful reminder of how we work as human beings.

So next time you're feeling overwhelmed and in the midst of overthinking,

Remember this story and press the stop button to restore peace,

Clarity and calm.

I'd love to hear if this story has resonated with you.

So if it has,

Please let me know in the comments and I'll be sure to get back to you.

Wishing you peace and love from my heart to yours,

Jane.

Reviews

Great share! I love this story. It's very easy to picture and to make the connections. Very well told. Thank you 🙏

Great visual and talk that should resonate with listeners.

I enjoyed your voice and the story metaphor was a helpful framing!
My only feedback is that I sometimes think people try those techniques expecting them to be a ‘stop button’ that works first time, and when it doesn’t they say “oh those things don’t work for me”. However, I find it’s more often like a muscle that needs to get stronger in order to become gradually more effective at stopping the train of thoughts.

I still like the elevator imagery though :)
Thank you

Beautiful story Jane. Very enlightening and inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Much love Pammi xx

Definitely need to press the stop button more often. Thank you!

Very helpful to this overthinker. Sometimes I’m caught in loops, and wonder how I got there to begin with.
I see the escalator, and will remember to press that stop 🛑 button! Thanks.

Listening to this story has been an aha moment for me 💡. As I am embarking upon learning how to declutter the mind and move away from overthinking. Thank you for sharing this story. 🙏🏾

That image is perfection Jane! It will stay with me. Heartfelt Thanks. 💜🌈☘️

Hi Jane
I’m a professional Overthinker! This short meditation was so helpful and I will put it into practice. The visual in my mind accompanying your story was so clear. Thank you 🙏🏻
Judith 🤗( from up north- like you I think)? Xx

So simple! ‘Stop!’ for peace, clarity and calm. Yes please 🙏🏼🩵

Thank you, Jane, this did resonate with me. I can't wait to apply it to my busy brain.

Great insight, thank you been struggling for years with this.Only recently been practising using the stop button.

What a wonderful analogy for the thoughts that come and go! I have been tripped up at the bottom of my thought escalator, for sure! I’ll take this bit with me to untangle myself :) thanks!

Thank you Jane for these wise words. It seems lately that I’m always stuck at the bottom of the escalator. I will now be looking for that elusive Stop button. ☮️ 😌

Stellar story with insightful metaphor and actionable strategy to implement in order to stop overthinking. I do so hope I can employ your brilliant strategy! Thank you 🙏

Hi Jane, I spent two hours at 3:30 a.m. overthinking and trying to solve a multitude of problems that my thoughts kept creating. I was exhausted but couldn't return to sleep. Eventually, I focused on my breathing, the cool air in the room, the sounds of the rain and was able to return to sleep. From now on, I will think of your story of the woman on the escalator and will "press the stop button".

I will do what you suggest here EVERYDAY! Excellent!

A very elegant illustration to bring ourselves back to the present moment when we're stuck ruminating. Thank you for sharing.

Helpful! 🙏🏿 Thank you.

Logical and simple! Hard part is recognizing when to push that button but it gets easier! ❤️❤️