How critical thinking skills can help you focus
and not fret.
Nagging thoughts plague everyone. The problem is that they
are rarely productive. They prevent us from thinking about the things we should
be. Why? Because our minds aren’t always under our full control.
For everyone else – practice critical thinking. It really does help manage anxiety and worry rather well.
The way I get rid of nagging thoughts and anxiety is to
address them. What am I afraid of? What can I do to avoid that? As soon as I
have a plan to deal with the possible negative consequences, my brain relaxes
and allows me to move forward with what I was supposed to be doing. This works
every time and it’s very easy to do. I
have another blog post on why Proper Planning is Not Pessimistic, if you want
to learn more (http://humanisthappiness.blogspot.com/2012/08/proper-planning-is-not-pessimistic.html)
Interestingly enough, the skill of questioning yourself and
your motives is an essential aspect of critical thinking and freethought.
Humanists practice them because they help us solve our problems, even if our
problems exist only in our imaginations.
This rational approach to dealing with managing anxiety and
worry only works if you have otherwise normal brain functions. If you are
suffering from OCD, this won’t work. OCD
has a very strong genetic component and it is considered a disorder. Meaning
people suffering from it aren’t able to control it without assistance from a
professional. If you have OCD or suspect you might, talk to your doctor and
seek professional help. You will be glad you did. Admitting your problem is
beyond your ability to control is actually a relief as it puts you in a
position to finally get your problem under control.
For everyone else – practice critical thinking. It really does help manage anxiety and worry rather well.
I’m curious to know what other people do to manage their
nagging thoughts. Do you have a system that works well for you? If you do, please please share!
