Do they serve a purpose?

On occasion there are situations in life that are difficult to turn off at night, when we try to sleep. For some this is a nightly occurrence. We trick ourselves into thinking if we can get the right answer to the racing thoughts they will settle down and sleep will take its place.

Oh if that were true. I think that the reason that racing thoughts persist is because we are more afraid of the answer than we are of the thought.

An answer generally requires action, one we may not be willing or able to do. Clients tend not to like when I speak of words like fear or being afraid. Fear does not fit nicely in the world where most messages we receive are about how to make life easier. Whether it is a one minute meal at a fast food restaurant or goods delivered to our door from pressing some magic buttons on our phone, all roads point to make your life easier.

Having the thought requires no decision or no action so long as it remains a thought. It allows us to avoid touching our toe in the pond of fear. Is it healthy for us to avoid fear? Sometimes it may be. But fortunately, or unfortunately the only way to stop racing thoughts is to go through the fear. Understand where it comes from, process it and decide a path.

When we do that we are no longer haunted by the thoughts that demand our attention.

We have a choice deal with them now or wait until they keep you up at night.