Useless Thinking

Useless Thinking by Guy Finley

Question: My thoughts run my life, driving me pillar to post. How do I learn to recognize when I'm trapped in useless thinking? I feel drained!

Answer: Whatever dominates us in the moment is what is first in our lives. We value things that seem to put us first, but actually put our true best interests last. We squander our lives -- our precious energy -- thinking about things that only serve to fill time. The cost of having a conscious first, being truly whole and successful, is giving up useless thoughts. How do you know a thought is useless? Ask yourself how long you've been thinking the same thing! Beyond that, here are some specific areas of useless thinking you can watch for:

1. Any thoughts whatsoever about what tomorrow may bring.



2. Thinking about what someone said or did to you.



3. Thinking about your possessions and your possibilities.



4. Thinking about what you could have said or should have done.



5. Thinking about what some kind of pain or illness may mean to you, or thinking about your own aging.



6. Thinking about how others displease you -- judging others.



7. Thinking about yourself.