the in-between.
Strategizing the mind — 3 ways to dismantle and understand difficult thought-patterns.
Do you ever feel as if you’re drowning in your own thoughts?
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Thoughts can be overwhelming no matter what state they may present themselves in; no matter if they’re positive, negative, or neutral. This mental mess is what I refer to as ‘the in-between.’
In working to dismantle and understand the difficult emotions that conjure up the in-between, I invite you to read along and learn three of my go-to strategies to deconstruct complicated thoughts and emotions.
In doing this, you will walk away with a fresh perspective on how your thoughts and emotions can be harnessed. In addition, you will learn how to redirect the sense of control your emotions have over you — taking back what is rightfully yours; self-autonomy over your own mind.
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1) Materialize your thoughts.
Materializing one’s thoughts can mean many things. In this case, I’m hinting toward the action of processing one’s internality to mirror that of a physical entity. In other words, this strategy is compiled of the transference of negative internal build-up to an external source. Whether this is pen and paper, creating a song, moving your body as you dance throughout your kitchen, creating a short story, etc. Being playful and learning to invite your inner child from outside your own Being is crucial to sitting with those thoughts that are often lost within the self, within one’s unconscious.
I often practice this through journaling or mind mapping. If I’m aware of the source of negative emotions and thoughts I’m feeling, I will write this in large capital letters in the centre of a blank sheet of paper. I will scribble and draw lines connecting one thought to another, sometimes I will just write things down for the sake of relieving them from my mind. It’s quite therapeutic and I often feel a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders once I have done this.
2) Get into your body and out of your mind.
I’m not going to be that person who preaches through their blog. That isn’t me and it never will be. Getting into your body doesn’t mean ‘go run a 5k,’ nonetheless, it does imply that one moves their physical form — their body — in order to free their mind; to be free from their mind. Whatever kind of movement that may be, whatever feels most comfortable and makes you feel the most satisfaction, is the right way to go. Go for a swim, or walk your dog as you sip your morning coffee; start anywhere, any time. It’s fostering the habit that curates sustainable change. Be consistent and you will feel a change; a difference in how you’re experiencing your own mind. It’s sensational and beautiful all-in-one.
3) Feel it through music.
This is a strategy I use to not only deconstruct my thoughts and emotions, but to feel them, and to be at one with them. As someone who is knee-deep in thoughts on the average day, it can be overwhelming when I seem to be suddenly swimming in them.
Music is healing and a vessel for transformation. I grew up hyper-sensitive to environmental factors and social interaction, causing a consistent undercurrent of anxious energy. Music allowed me to process these feelings and energies in order to transform them into something proactive.
I’d often come home from school overwhelmed by various sensory inputs such as masking my anxious nature, being exposed to fluorescent lighting, and having to interact with a multitude of individuals in a large open space. Sticking my Beats on as soon as I got in the door allowed me to disconnect from reality and reconnect with myself, my thoughts, and my emotions. If little 8-year-old-me found this helpful (and still do) — I assure you that this emotion-management strategy is transformational in ways that I cannot explain — but only you can experience. Next time you feel stressed or overwhelmed, listen to a new album or put your favourite single on repeat. Feel the beat, try to hone in on the instrumental components, read the lyrics — heck, even sing it out loud. It’s gratifying. I promise.
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Above I have listed the three ways I work through difficult emotions, thoughts, and patterns of thinking. As an individual diagnosed with anxiety, I am faced with multifaceted ways of thinking on the daily. This can present itself as overthinking, ruminative thinking, obsessive-compulsive thought patterns, hyper-fixative thought patterns, negative thinking, discrediting myself, worrying about what has yet to come, and dwelling on what has been.
I often think to myself that I’m the only one who experiences difficult thoughts like this but then I remind myself that I’m human, alike you all. And in that, I felt like sharing my three most used strategies in deconstructing and understanding difficult emotive thought patterns, so you can hop on the bandwagon too!
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Thank you for reading! ‘Till next time. Stay cool.
Isobel Mae ❤
