Addicted to Thought?
I am using a meditation app called Calm in the mornings for guided meditation practice, and today’s topic suggested that we can be addicted to thought as much, or more, as we are addicted to nicotine or overeating.
How can this be true? I usually find that the repetitive thoughts I have in the morning are rehearsing moments of the day or reminding myself of important appointments or small tasks.
Here’s an example: “Remember to pick up your laptop from next to the dining room table.” Then a minute later, “Don’t forget your laptop.” And five minutes later, “Put the laptop next to the door so you won’t forget it.”
You get the picture. They seem to be helpful thoughts.
However, I can recall negative thoughts or judgmental thoughts, too. Looking at myself in the mirror and judging my physical appearance — whether it be how far my stomach sticks out or my lack of muscle tone in certain areas — those thoughts happen, too. How helpful are they? The same thoughts visit me every day.
Regardless of whether recurring thoughts are positive or negative, the question I’m considering is whether or not these thoughts are some type of addiction. If I see a bowl full of sweets — let’s just use peanut M&M’s for a real world scenario — I can eat until the bowl is empty. There’s no way I need that many or those types of calories, so I am compulsively eating beyond my needs.
Facing a mirror, I keep looking at my stomach and turning different ways to see whether my profile is the same on all sides, and I can do this until I’m late for work. Maybe that’s a bit of hyperbole, but there’s no way I need that many views of my profile, so am I obeying my compulsive thoughts about how I look?
In certain situations, I can avoid sweets. Like work. If there’s a bowl of sweets at work, I can avoid them, and maybe that’s due to a certain peer pressure, like “Don’t be the guy who eats all the M&M’s — don’t be that guy.” If they are in a bowl at home, and there’s no one else scrutinizing my behavior — real or imagined — it’s tougher.
What are my thoughts like it certain situations or contexts? I’ll have to practice noticing my thoughts more, but I would hypothesize in general that when I am working or busy, I am far less controlled by repetitive thoughts. I would assume that in leisure time or before or after work, my thoughts fill with repeat visitors about important appointments or small tasks that are upcoming. Interesting epiphany, now that I reflect on it — how “helpful” are my “helpful” thoughts about work when they are taking up time outside of work?
Maybe I am addicted. I resolve to try to notice my thoughts about work going forward. If I notice a repetitive thought, one strategy can be to make a written note and return to enjoy my present time and place with family and friends.
Also, I’m curious: how do repetitive thoughts and our habits of handling them influence or affect your ability to build and lead teams?
What are your thoughts?
