Thoughts vs. Thinking

Read time: 4 minutes

Since quitting my corporate job at the end of this past October, I’ve received several emails and YouTube comments congratulating me and wishing me success in this new chapter. (All of which put a huge smile on my face 😁).

However, I also received a few messages from people who (in so many words) shared with me how they have been contemplating something similar, but ….

So, I’d like to kick off a bit of a mini-series over the next couple of weeks. We’ll cover various topics geared toward helping us navigate self-doubt and the many other emotions we feel when facing a huge decision like quitting a job to bet on ourselves.

Today, I want to show you the difference between thoughts and thinking and how understanding this distinction can help us declutter our minds (e.g., the limiting beliefs we may have created).

Thoughts vs. Thinking

A thought is a noun because it’s something we have rather than something we do.

A thought takes no effort or force on our end. It’s something that happens organically.

In contrast, thinking is a verb because it’s something we do.

It’s the act of thinking about our thoughts.

This takes a significant amount of energy, effort, and willpower, which are finite resources.

I mean, reflect for a moment on the last time you spent hours of the day thinking deeply about something and how exhausted mentally or emotionally you may have felt afterward.

It can be taxing, for sure.

Now, we don’t have to engage in every thought that pops into our minds, but when we do, the light switch switches from thought to thinking.

How to Stop Thinking

When I started documenting and sharing my decluttering journey on YouTube, I immediately started talking about the mental and emotional side of minimalism.

I shared the best tips based on what I was going through and learning at the time.

But there was one question I failed to answer: how do you stop thinking?

And as a certified over-thinker, this is one question I would have loved to know the answer to.

Well, years later, I finally figured it out.

Here’s how to stop thinking…

Drum roll, please…

You can’t.

I’ve learned that it’s not possible to stop thinking entirely, but we can reduce the time we spend thinking so that it gets smaller each day that passes. Eventually, we can get to the point where we spend most of our day not caught up in our thinking, worrying, stressing, and all the things contributing to our mental clutter.

But how do we do this? (That’s the big question, right?)

The answer to this question is by creating a non-thinking environment.

Creating a Non-Thinking Environment

To do this effectively, there are two steps you must take.

1. Remove thinking triggers
2. Create space for expression

Let’s walk through them together.

Removing Thinking Triggers

There are four categories that I believe are worth considering.

• Physical Health – “You are what you eat.” As cliche as this is, it’s true. And even though I’m not a certified nutritionist or dietary expert, I do know that the foods we eat greatly impact how we think, feel, heal, and grow.
• Physical Environment – I firmly believe that the only path toward mental clarity is one paved with less clutter. This doesn’t mean you must become a “minimalist” but it does require decluttering the excess at the very least. If you’re new to decluttering, I have a playlist on my YouTube channel with an excellent overview of what you need to know to get results.
• Digital Consumption – Just like the foods we eat, the media we listen to and the content we consume greatly impact how we think, feel, communicate, and develop. “There is power in the tongue,” and what we welcome in will eventually come out.
• Relationships/Friendships – Here’s another non-original cliche for you that carries a ton of truth. “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” This includes behavior, mindset, habits, and overall lifestyle. But odds are you’re familiar with this message already. So, I’ll leave you with this: it’s best to avoid filling your circle with people who are quick to place their fears and limiting beliefs on you.
  
  

Creating Space for Expression

We’re human, and it’s okay to be human. This means we’re not perfect, and even after removing thinking triggers, we may still occasionally overthink, worry, stress, and doubt ourselves.

So, we must create space to express whatever we’re bothered by or thinking about.

I’ve found that the best way to do this is through journaling.

It’s private and without boundaries. We are free to express ourselves however we see fit, without a filter.

If you’re new to journaling, I have a playlist on my YouTube channel to help get you started the right way.

But if writing isn’t your thing, don’t hesitate to find someone you trust that you can talk to. (Even if it’s a professional).

⇨ This Week’s Action Step:

I encourage you to commit to understanding the difference between thoughts and thinking. Reflect on your past experiences and note when your thoughts turned into thinking and that thinking turned into mental clutter.

Are there any patterns or apparent triggers?

Once you’ve found what it is for you, use that clarity to help you declutter and navigate life while thinking less.

Whenever you're ready, here's how I can help you:

⇨ The Decluttering Starter Kit: Skip the overwhelm and jumpstart your decluttering journey. This comprehensive course will teach and guide you through my multi-step action plan for decluttering with less overwhelm and more progress each week. Get access here.