Living wholeheartedly is challenging if you’re suffering from anxiety, worry or obsessive thinking.
These forms of mental tension can make your day-to-day life compulsively busy, but not deeply satisfying. That can honestly feel so disheartening.
I talk with many bright women who aren’t actually enjoying their lives. Some feel stuck in overachieving while others feel paralyzed by self-doubt. Despite their best intentions their lives aren’t flowing.
I’ve found such a need over and over again for more heart connection.
When your head and heart openly collaborate you get the best of both worlds. Inner harmony allows you to genuinely celebrate life’s surprises. You also build the strength to stay centered through life’s inevitable storms.
Living from your whole self simply feels better.
If you’re currently experiencing more struggle than flow, see if you resonate with any of the following signs of an overactive mind.
3 Signs of an Overactive Mind
1 your heart feels left out
Do you involve your heart when you set a goal? Do you trust that an initial good feeling means that your heart is 100% on board? Or, do you give your heart your undivided attention, pause and listen for inner guidance? If you skipped checking in with your heart sufficiently, chances are you have an overactive mind.
An overactive mind is hyper-focused on progress and achievement. In response to your fears or outer obstacles, an overactive mind gets pushy and impatient. This is especially true if your mind believes your desired goal promises you more security, happiness or relief.
Sometimes what you need most is to slow down and chat with your heart. This is always true if you’re feeling numb or disconnected, even if you’re enjoying success on the outside.
Your heart wants to help you find a sustainable way of living and achieving right now. Perhaps you might like to start a dialogue with your heart today. It’s amazing how your heart can lighten your mind’s burden.
2 you want a fear-free life
Your rational mind likes logic and dislikes uncertainty. Growth, on the other hand, is a continuous invitation into the unknown. Stepping out of your comfort zone naturally brings up fear. If you frequently bypass your fears with procrastination, addictions or drama, you may have an overactive mind.
Were you comforted as a child? Did you get enough hugs, kind words and soothing when you were frightened? Could your body relax into the goodness you received?
Feeling the presence of another’s heart is how we learn to find comfort within our own being. If you didn’t get enough comfort growing up, you may have learned to lean on your mind instead.
It may help to begin by understanding that fear is simply an emotion. Your heart, not your mind, is the part of your being best designed to be with your emotions. Next time you feel the flutter of fear, why not let your heart help you befriend your emotions.
3 your energy is low and tension is too high
Do you frequently end your day feeling utterly wiped out or overwhelmed? Are you struggling with a persistent symptom like acid reflux, tension headaches or migraines? If you answered yes to any of these, then you might have an overactive mind.
Your headspace and body are directly connected. Negative thoughts and mental meltdowns can leave you feeling ambivalent or mired in self-doubt. Negativity can leak into your body turning into uncomfortable sensations such as fatigue, tension or contractions. These may be signals to check in with your heart.
Your heart listens with compassion to your inner dialogue. An overactive mind, by contrast, tends to be critical, difficult to satisfy and overly focused on your shortcomings. This mental tension often translates to physical tension. You can gently explore the message behind your physical symptom with your heart as your companion.
What You Can Do Next
We’ve been talking about how to know if your mind is overshadowing your heart. If it is, here are three simple things you can do next.
Awareness is the first step in relaxing your mind. Make note of what it looks like when your mind is too busy.
Help your overactive mind unwind by letting your energy move throughout your body. Imagine your energy flowing down from your head like a waterfall. Feel the energy flowing through your torso, out your fingertips, down your legs and out your feet. As your body comes to life, your mind tends to slow down.
Listen to what your mind and heart are each wanting, saying or believing. Listening with care can help you find your next step.
Are You Following Your Heart?
The beauty of moving through your life with inner alignment is that you’ll probably face less resistance and inner sabotage.
Finding what truly works for you to calm an overactive mind can make such a difference. If you want some help expanding your heart connection, I invite you to set up a free initial consultation. Just click this link to schedule your 15-minute consultation.
Lisa Bowker, MSW is a holistic AIT practitioner in Providence, RI who helps women release the past so that they can feel joyfully alive and deeply connected with their purposes and their loved ones.
Photo courtesy of Tachina Lee at Unsplash.com.