When you overthink, thoughts repeat or spin in your brain – longer than you expect, longer than you want. These thoughts often exaggerate things you said or did that you’d rather forget.“Even if we are very deliberate in other areas of our lives, we tend to treat our thought life as something we have no control over.”Over time, your brain repeats these broken soundtracks, and they reset your memories. You believe what your brain tells you and find evidence to support those beliefs.You can learn to control your brain and to ignore your broken soundtracks.

Your thoughts either move you forward or hold you back.

Consider these techniques to successfully reset your perspective:<ul><li>Exercise, which releases endorphins that boost your mood.</li><li>Make lists to sort out your tasks and help you prioritize.</li><li>Complete a task or two, however minor, to give yourself a sense of accomplishment.</li><li>Distract yourself with a hobby, such as doing a jigsaw puzzle, knitting, reading a book or listening to a podcast.</li><li>Take a walk in the woods.</li><li>Breathe.</li></ul>

You cannot turn off your thoughts; turn them down instead.

“What you think influences what you do, which influences the results you get.”When reflecting, ask whether they reflect these qualities:<ul><li>True – Many people believe the story their thoughts tell without testing for credibility. Broken soundtracks harm culture and spirit of an organization if people fail to question the veracity of those messages.</li><li>Helpful – When analyzing thoughts about this conversation, however, consider: Do they fuel your progress or cause indecision?</li><li>Kind – Kind thoughts do not judge you. Google, for example, found that when team members treated their peers without judgment.</li></ul>

Influence your ideas with action.

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Your thoughts either move you forward or hold you back</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Influence ideas with action</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Cannot turn off thoughts; turn them down instead</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Replace “broken soundtracks” with songs you want to hear</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use the power of opposites to change the direction of your thoughts</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Recite motivational soundtracks aloud for 30 days, notice how that changes your outlook</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Gather true, helpful, kind soundtracks to create a chorus that sings during times of overthinking</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Renounce pocket jury – internal judge who tries to thwart progress – by gathering evidence</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Translate new soundtracks into a symbol that helps you embrace positivity</li></ul>

Soundtracks

“You have to gather some evidence of what you want to be true in your life. This is not a passive experience. Proof won’t find you; you have to find it.”

Renounce your pocket jury – the internal judge who tries to thwart your progress – by gathering evidence.

“Good days start with good thoughts.”

Recite motivational soundtracks aloud for 30 days and notice how that changes your outlook.

<ul><li>“Momentum is messy,” addresses perfectionism.</li><li>“I’ve got a gift worth giving,” focuses on personal identity.</li><li>“I am the CEO of me, and I am the best boss,” centers on responsibility.</li></ul>

Gather your true, helpful and kind soundtracks to create a chorus that sings during times you might overthink.

“Overthinking steals time, creativity, and productivity by making you listen to broken soundtracks. Do you know what happens when you listen to new ones? You give your dreams more time, creativity, and productivity. ”

Translate your new soundtracks into a symbol that helps you embrace positivity.

“You don’t think your way out of overthinking. You act your way out. You retire broken soundtracks. You replace them with new ones. You repeat those, so often they become as automatic as the old ones. Those are all actions.”As you collect your new soundtracks, see where they fit using the action” template:<ul><li>Identify ways you want to succeed such as having more confidence, even in the cold.</li><li>Retire your broken soundtracks and ask what soundtracks resonate, and will give you impetus to succeed.</li><li>Take action. Conduct preliminary research for sales meeting to solidify understanding and your position.</li></ul>

Replace your “broken soundtracks” with the songs you want to hear.

Overthinking isn't a personality trait. It's the sneakiest form of fear. It steals time, creativity, and goals. It's the most expensive, least productive thing companies invest in without even knowing it. And it's an epidemic. When New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff changed his life by transforming his overthinking, he wondered if other people might benefit from what he discovered. He commissioned a research study to ask 10,000 people if they struggle with overthinking too, and 99.5 percent said, "Yes!" The good news is that in Soundtracks, Acuff offers a proven plan to change overthinking from a super problem into a superpower. When we don't control our thoughts, our thoughts control us. If our days are full of broken soundtracks, thoughts are our worst enemy, holding us back from the things we really want. But the solution to overthinking isn't to stop thinking. The solution is running our brains with better soundtracks. Once we learn how to choose our soundtracks, thoughts become our best friend, propelling us toward our goals. If you want to tap into the surprising power of overthinking and give your dreams more time and creativity, learn how to DJ the soundtracks that define you. If you can worry, you can wonder. If you can doubt, you can dominate. If you can spin, you can soar.

Overthinking isn't a personality trait. It's the sneakiest form of fear. It steals time, creativity, and goals. It's the most expensive, least productive thing companies invest in without even knowing it. And it's an epidemic. When New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff changed his life by transforming his overthinking, he wondered if other people might benefit from what he discovered. He commissioned a research study to ask 10,000 people if they struggle with overthinking too, and 99.5 percent said, "Yes!" The good news is that in Soundtracks, Acuff offers a proven plan to change overthinking from a super problem into a superpower. When we don't control our thoughts, our thoughts control us. If our days are full of broken soundtracks, thoughts are our worst enemy, holding us back from the things we really want. But the solution to overthinking isn't to stop thinking. The solution is running our brains with better soundtracks. Once we learn how to choose our soundtracks, thoughts become our best friend, propelling us toward our goals. If you want to tap into the surprising power of overthinking and give your dreams more time and creativity, learn how to DJ the soundtracks that define you. If you can worry, you can wonder. If you can doubt, you can dominate. If you can spin, you can soar.

Jon Acuff is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Jon Acuff has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Jon Acuff's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Renounce your pocket jury – the internal judge who tries to thwart your progress – by gathering evidence.

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Evidence

Challenge your internal monologue

Challenge your thoughts