How to Stop Thinking and Start Living

A recurring theme in many of the readings I’ve done is this: people feeling uninspired and disconnected from their intuition.  The main cause of this disconnect comes from our thoughts.  You would think that “thinking” would help you out in this scenario, but unfortunately, that is rarely the case.

We’ve been taught that our mind is our most powerful tool.  And it is, but most of us are using it wrong.  We use it to fixate, to justify, to replay conversations, to imagine conversations, to worry and to plan for every possible outcome.  We think that by doing this, we will be safe and in control.  Because the unknown is a scary place and thinking is the only tool we have to protect ourselves.

I remember reading somewhere that people will often self-sabotage because it ensures that they can control the outcome.  Control is more important than potential success. 

Thoughts inform our energy and our emotions.  Whatever energy we put out into the world comes back to us.   

You’ve probably noticed it too—genuinely happy people seem to attract joy effortlessly. It’s not that bad things never happen to them; it’s that they don’t let those moments define their story.

And then there’s the opposite. The constant complainers. The ones who always feel like life is happening to them. Even when good things happen, they find the crack in the joy, the flaw in the blessing.  The person whose fault it is.

And then... there are the rest of us—floating somewhere in the middle. Comfortable. Numb. We distract those silly thoughts with tv, books or social media.  Can’t think if your mind is busy doing something else!  But my question is this?  Are we even really living? Or are we just keeping the noise down to get through the day, the month, the years?

So what’s the answer?  There are a few options, but it involves getting out of your comfort zone, and making intentional changes;   

1. Presence.  Presence asks nothing of you except to be here.  Turning off our thoughts and tuning into presence isn’t always easy for people to do, but if you are able to get there, it truly is the most wonderful, freeing, feeling.  You’ve felt this in moments;  When you are travelling and your only purpose is to absorb what is going on around you.  When you are doing something that brings you joy, whether it’s a creative endeavour or physical activity.  Some people find presence in meditation.  Others in nature.  Some in music.  Presence doesn’t care how you arrive, it simply invites you to come home.

2. If you can’t beat them, join them.  Write your thoughts down on paper.  Stream of consciousness journaling gives your thoughts a place to land, clearing energetic space inside of you.

3. If you can’t beat them, change them.  Don’t know what to think about instead?  Try prompted journaling.  Meaningful reflection shifts your thoughts into clarity, purpose and self-awareness. Instead of looping the same story, you begin writing a new one—one that’s intentional, grounded, and aligned with who you’re becoming.

4. If you can’t beat them, change them.  If turning off your thoughts feels impossible to do, then change what you think about.  When you find yourself spiralling into your typical thought patterns, switch over to a mantra. Something like "My energy invites abundance" or "I release the past and embrace compassion". Prompted journaling can help you find a mantra that resonates with you. Or you can visit the Soul Support Library/Mantras to find one suited to your Life Path.

5. Use your breath as an anchor.  Breathing in for a count of 4, holding it for a count of 7 and releasing to the count of 8 sends a signal to your nervous system that you are safe, it slows your heart rate and calms you down.