The Positive Side of Rumination
I’ve been blessed with the double-edged gift of being perceptive. It has allowed me to see beyond the surface, understand the stories behind words, gestures, and actions.
This has benefited me on certain occasions, but not always. On one hand, it has helped me make better decisions, be more aware of my context. On the other hand, it has made me aware of more than I would like, and consequently, at times, I’ve allowed myself to be overly affected by the opinions and/or actions of others.
I’ve spent entire days pondering the whys: Is it me, is it them? Should I have said this or not? Should they have interpreted my actions this way or not? Why did this happen to me?
It’s a constant chain of questions that my mind tries to resolve, delving as deep as it can into every detail that bothers me, no matter how small. My mind has an insatiable need to scrutinize every rough patch that discomforts me.
I wanted to break free from this cycle because these thoughts were a repetitive loop that consumed my days and energy, leading to even worse thought cycles that created a negative self-perception and pushed me towards depression.
I’m not a psychologist, and I don’t intend to give medical advice. Each case is different, and undoubtedly, a psychology professional would be more appropriate to help if you find yourself in rumination cycles.
I want to share what I discovered and my perspective. Perhaps, if it resonates with your current situation, you might find something useful in it.
I read different self-help books, researched as much as I could, and what I found gave me a different perspective on my situation.
Rumination, in psychological terms, is considered a cycle of repetitive thinking that tends to focus on certain aspects, circumstances, or life experiences. However, these thoughts don’t always have to be negative.
Our minds are “machines” that love solving problems. If we have one, it’s likely that consciously and unconsciously, it will focus on what we feel is still pending. We can’t help it; that’s what it’s there for, to help us, or, if we allow it, to work against us.
Consider this…
Have you ever been focused on a work or academic task and, for some reason, found yourself stuck? You don’t know how to progress, and no matter how much you try and think about it, you can’t find a solution at that moment.
But then, hours later or even the next day, your mind, out of nowhere, comes up with the solution to what you were looking for.
The mind does this process spontaneously; these are processes that remain in our subconscious because our conscious mind dealt with them first. The mind, as our great ally, saw that we had a problem and worked to solve it.
But, if like me, you have a ruminative thinking pattern, what’s the upside?
The difference between the rumination cycle (negative side) and the problem-solving cycle (positive side) lies in our conscious attitude toward it.
It’s relevant to ask ourselves these questions to identify the difference:
Are we entering this thought cycle because we’re seeking to solve a problem? Or are we getting lost in the problem?
If you find yourself in rumination states, you’ve probably noticed that this cycle only leads to a growing whirlwind in your head and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
But…
There are times when the solution isn’t so obvious, such as when it involves emotional, interpersonal, or cognitive aspects…
In that case, the mind needs us to give it a hand. Always, the mind is better at solving external problems, but for the mind, internal problems are the ones that are most challenging. Why? Because it’s always easier to see what’s outside than what’s inside.
We identify ourselves with our mind; with every thought it generates, we assume our identity. We don’t question it; we don’t take control to give it purpose because we feel that it is us. In reality, the mind is just a tool that we can consciously use to our advantage.
That’s where our will comes in, our desire to find a solution, to give it purpose.
It’s in our hands to direct that energy somewhere. So, what if we add purpose to that rumination? What if we direct it toward a clear goal?
So, we ask ourselves:
Can I really do something about this situation? Can I truly find a solution to this problem? Here we may face two situations:
- Sometimes, there’s no solution. It may be something that already happened, and you can’t do anything to change it. But then, it depends on whether you work on accepting it or adapting. That would generate a different problem, one focused on adaptation, not the initial problem. Now, we have a new one, one that we can solve.
- Other times, there is a solution. You can do something. So, consciously and voluntarily changing our energies to give purpose to rumination will turn it not just into a thought pattern but into a problem-solving process.
Therefore…
Entering rumination cycles can be draining, especially when it comes to negative thought cycles. Constantly dwelling on negative ideas is like rubbing our arm with a piece of rough fabric. At first, it seems like nothing will happen, but after a while, the skin will start to redden, and if we continue, we’ll start to create a wound.
Rumination itself is our deep desire to solve something, but it needs our conscious attention to do so.
The mind is wonderful, but sometimes, it needs our help.
