Comments on: Why Thinking Is Overrated

By: Mark McGuinness

Mark McGuinness — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:29:28 +0000

Yes, mindfulness is a great way to deal with it. Come to (ahem) think of it, mindfulness is a great way to approach just about everything.

By: Juli Alexander

Juli Alexander — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:56:00 +0000

We developed left brain functions for a reason through evolution. Personally, to me, the way to deal with this is the mindfulness approach; watch the left brain do its’ thing but don’t buy into it. Eventually it gives up and meditation can occur. I also find when I laugh at my thoughts they disappear faster than when I buy into them, so one of my life slogans is,”Don’t believe everything you think” (along with “All’s well, all things considered”.)

By: Milo McLaughlin » Random Reading List – 15 December 2009 (with free Seth Godin e-book)

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:06:50 +0000

[...] a way of working on this tendency towards autopilot, Lateral Action’s post called Why Thinking is Overrated suggests an interesting Zen meditation in which you imagine you have no head (via [...]

By: AverySays

AverySays — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:45:30 +0000

Very well put! The soup analogy is great.

By: Shaking Up Routines — My Cultivated Life

Shaking Up Routines — My Cultivated Life — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:57:16 +0000

[...] (like me), or drink tea instead.2. Give the tiresome, endless thinking a rest for a little while. Thinking is overrated. Probably new or different for most of us!3. Try homemade boullion that doesn’t come in a [...]

By: Random Reading List – 15 December 2009 (with free Seth Godin e-book) | Products of a Gaseous Brain

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:56:47 +0000

By: christopher

christopher — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:53:10 +0000

‘My best thoughts, my most creative ideas, my soundest arguments, have come when I’m not thinking at all. Usually in the worst moments, too – taking a shower or driving down the highway, where there’s no keyboard to be had.”

It’s the same way for me… most of my best thinking is in the car.

By: Andra Phillips

Andra Phillips — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:26:00 +0000

I love this post. I can relate entirely with what you are saying. So many great ideas and solutions come to me when I am relaxed and able to “get my mind out of the way”. I am not ashamed to say that I believe in The Supreme Being and I know when we are quiet, thoughts of guidance come. Thanks for sharing.

By: Fredy Martins

Fredy Martins — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:45:08 +0000

Maybe there´s another way of thinking. I mean, those moments when you think differently then using only analytical though. Maybe, we limit our boundaries when focusing our minds through some methodical way of solving problems. If that´s real, it looks like it´s time to perceive a new way of thinking, where a bunch mechanisms works together, not only the brain, but vision, audition, voice, gestures, the whole body experiences a creative moment of living. Maybe?

By: Sami Paju

Sami Paju — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:35:26 +0000

Hi Mark,

I have couple things I do related to this article. Firstly, I do yoga specifically in order to feel what it’s like not to think. I find, that having to focus on breathing, movement, and muscles does not leave room for the thought-chatter that’s usually going on inside our heads.

The other thing, with different impact, is that I take 20 minute naps almost every day, and during that time I deliberately stop actively thinking about anything, but instead let the thoughts flow freely. It’s similar to sitting in a movie theatre and wathing a film, without taking any control or stand on the things I see.

//sami