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Discover how the "counting thoughts game" can help calm your mental health and stop overthinking. Create space in your mind.
The number of thoughts a person has in a day can vary, but some estimates are:
6,000
A 2020 study using brain imaging scans found that the average person has more than 6,000 thoughts per day. The study found that people have a median rate of about 6.5 thought transitions per minute.
70,000
The Cleveland Clinic says that the human brain processes about 70,000 thoughts each day.
Some say that 75% of these thoughts are negative, and 95% are repetitive. This constant barrage of negative and repetitive thoughts can impact mental health, happiness, and overall quality of life.
Today, I’d like to guide you through a helpful exercise called "Counting Your Thoughts." Create space in your mind from overthinking.
This activity aims to support your mental health by calming the mind. It creates space between YOU the observer, which can also be called conscious awareness, and your passing thoughts. You become the watcher and not your thoughts passing by.
The "Counting Your Thoughts" exercise is useful when you find yourself lost in overthinking. It encourages you to become an observer of your thoughts rather than getting caught up in them.
Here’s how it works: I’ll ask you to close your eyes for 30 seconds and count each thought that comes to mind.
Remember, a "thought" can be anything—a sound you hear, a body sensation, plans for later, or even reflections on what happened yesterday. Just take note of each one as it arises. This practice helps you shift back into a state of conscious awareness, allowing you to observe your thoughts rather than being consumed by them.
Let’s try it now. Close your eyes gently, and count to 30 slowly. After 30 seconds, open your eyes. If you find it easier you can set a timer for 30 seconds. Remember to have a gentle bell or chime so as not to startle yourself.
How many thoughts did you count? It’s common to have more than one—perhaps even 30, depending on how quickly they come. This exercise reminds us that thoughts are not permanent; they flow through our awareness, which is constant and always present.
This is a valuable tool for those moments when you’re overthinking or feeling overwhelmed. While it’s not something you need to do all the time, it can be a quick way to regain conscious awareness when you need it. Don't take it too seriously, enjoy the process!
The acrylic wash-and-flow painting with motifs is after the counting thoughts game - link above.
Let me know in the comments how many thoughts you have counted.
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