It started with a Khalil Gibran quote:
I started to think about this in the context of all the times I had engaged in painful overthinking, worry, and rumination, often choosing sorrow before I had (or would) experience it. Before I knew it, I had a podcast episode and a new creative practice guide.
Do you have trouble letting go of negative and automatic thoughts of dread about possible upcoming events?
Do you second-guess yourself and replay past situations and decisions, wondering how you could have made so many mistakes?
Do you find it difficult to let go of anxious questions and scenarios that play over and over again in your mind?
The grip of overthinking, worry, and rumination – three interrelated but different mental states – can be painful. I've grappled with them for years, but I've also learned how to combat them by using my creativity. I've found ways to turn down the volume on overthinking by pursuing creative outlets, such as writing poetry, journaling, crafting, and connecting to nature. Developing new creative skills and enjoying the process of art-making have helped to ground my thinking (and bolster my confidence to turn off negative thoughts). I want to share some of these strategies with you.
In this guide, the Art-Lovers Creative Practice Guide to Stop Overthinking, Worry & Rumination, I explore eight strategies across four modalities that will help you reduce the grip of overthinking.
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