Fixating.



I'm currently here listening to my next-door neighbour using their water and my upstairs neighbours watching TV. Before drifting off to sleep, I've decided to write down some thoughts.

I fixate on things. This is a problem of mine. I don't know why, but as soon as I have a new goal or challenge on the horizon, I tend to obsess over it.

Sometimes it's productive - like moving into my new place. I was obsessed for two months trying to find the perfect furniture and layout for the place. It was so fun trying to create my own space and I'm glad I wasn't left scrambling at the last minute.

Other times it's a little less meaningful. I sit there and think about certain things I can't control or change. When there's nothing else going on in my life, I tend to go back to the same thoughts and let them stew. This rarely does any good, and never allows me a clear perspective.

I feel like I'm always thinking. My mind never takes a break.

I think it's time to start bringing silence and peace into my life. Turn my brain off and stop thinking for a few minutes each day. Now the question is how?


Do you have a hard time turning your brain off?

4 comments:

  1. i have been reading about something called acceptance and commitment therapy and one of the ideas in that is being mindful of the present moment and not living in the future. this reminds me of that. a very eastern/zen concept!
    kw ladies in navy

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    1. Hey Kelly!

      I was just talking about how I fixate... and often... to a coworker this week. Being focused, organized, and relentless when it comes to achieving something has always been a huge + for me personally but it can absolutely lead to the opposite. If I have a day during which I think my nose looks weird from a certain angle, you can guarantee it's all I'll be thinking about for the next while!

      What I don't think I fixate on is how I'm going to handle a situation, or weighing options and things like that. All in all, I'd consider myself a fast decision maker and I'm usually content with past decisions I've made - like when to stop being friends with someone that's proven herself to not be worth the effort. That sort of thing comes easily, so I wish I wouldn't spend so much time fixating on things that are actually so trivial - like wanting smaller feet or wishing I hadn't pierced my nose back in high school or insert stupid thing here.

      I actually have the parasomnia condition of night terrors and try not to let myself fixate on things because it tends to aggravate my night terrors and make them more active, more vivid, etc. Blasting music, working out, or treating myself to some retail therapy is really helpful! Also, having my dog and being his care giver and being able to focus on someone/thing other than myself.

      Super long comment, but your post made me do it. hehehe. At least I know I'm not the only girl with a fixation for fixating!

      Katelyn

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    2. Thanks ladies! Katelyn, wow it's nice to know I'm not alone in this... I feel sometimes like I'm the only one that worries about these dumb things... I find music is such a good therapy for me, but sometimes it makes me focus on something, so I am very particular about what I feel like listening to some days!

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  2. Ohhhhh girl, get out of my head! It's so hard to let go of things that your brain randomly decides to fixate on. I can't stop thinking about the little inspirational coin my mom gave me that was stolen with all my other stuff last week. I'll never see it again, and it drives me crazy.

    When I need to turn my brain off, I actually do something physical. Two things that have been so wonderful for me the past few months have been rock climbing and dancing. I climb at gyms, at outdoor sport walls and on natural rock (like my Instagram pics this weekend.) For dance, there's a studio in my city that has awesome modern and hip hop classes. To a certain extent, running can clear my head too, but sometimes it does the exact opposite.

    But anyway, those things all usually take so much concentration and focus that it's impossible to think about anything else. It's like being in a trance and it's incredible.

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