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How do you stop thinking?

by Hulbert
166 replies
There are many quotes out there that involve thinking, from the ones of Law of Attraction to famous quotes like Descartes', "I think, therefore I am." This led many people to constantly think all day.

Even when you are relaxed someplace quiet or taking a jog in the park, your mind can still be in thinking mode. So, how do you personally stop thinking?
#stop #thinking
  • Profile picture of the author Dr Dan
    You really cant shut it off completely nor would you want to. Even Gurus and Yogis cant accomplish this feat for more than a few seconds, even if they have been meditating for many years. The mind is a tool and that is all it is. think of it like a radio that picks up signals. That is all it is. So the goal is to find the right stations. When you get some static, re-adjust it by doing a light meditation or some yoga. I have a few self guided meditations at The Blessing Page that are really good.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mutuo
      Originally Posted by rockstarinlife View Post

      You really cant shut it off completely nor would you want to. Even Gurus and Yogis cant accomplish this feat for more than a few seconds, even if they have been meditating for many years. The mind is a tool and that is all it is. think of it like a radio that picks up signals. That is all it is. So the goal is to find the right stations. When you get some static, re-adjust it by doing a light meditation or some yoga. I have a few self guided meditations at The Blessing Page that are really good.
      Thats a SUPER way to put it. Its a radio, tune into the right stations and you'll be rockin all day long!
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      • Profile picture of the author Dr Dan
        Originally Posted by Mutuo View Post

        Thats a SUPER way to put it. Its a radio, tune into the right stations and you'll be rockin all day long!
        Yep... Rock On!
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    • Profile picture of the author Dustin Anderson
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      • Profile picture of the author SuccessFlavor510
        Ya bro big time, same here when I get home I Meditate in between doing stuff so I center myself so I dont lose it. hehe

        I have so Much energy after I Meditate! =D You Rock dustin!
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  • Profile picture of the author 2PercentPlan
    The way I do it is I focus on my breathing, that is the only way to get out of my head. Hope that helps ya.
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    • Profile picture of the author davidjames42973
      This may sound really weird, but when I'm trying to sleep and my brain can't stop thinking about online marketing, I think of the color blue and visualize it in my mind. Every time my mind drifts, I mentally tell myself BLUE and begin thinking of the color again. I find that I fall asleep within about 10 minutes after doing this about 15-20 times...
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    • Profile picture of the author Profit-smart
      I to suffer from this problem. Its a notorious source of sleep deprivation.

      I dont really combat it; I keep a notepad next to my bed. I have an entire file drawer labeled "Ideas" that gets a new entry almost every other day.

      When I'm really restless though, or just desperatly need some solid sleep I'd be lost without one of these.


      SleepMate 980A White Noise Machine Generator



      Just focus on the noise until you fall asleep. Gets me every time
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      • Profile picture of the author rockstarmillionaire
        The vat19.com is an interesting product. I'll have to recommend that to a few of my friends who have trouble sleeping. thanks!
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        • Profile picture of the author Ian Jackson
          To all those doubters, a polite BS. It IS possible.

          I've had a couple of attempts at reading Charles Haanel's "The Master Key" system. Copies of the original text are available from a publisher here in the UK for about £25. Be careful though, as I've seen many immitations/reprints around. I know they are immitations because the ISBN is different (FYI, it should be 0900604050) and I've bought a few, only to find them to be abridged too.

          It's 24 lessons about how to practice the Law of Attraction.

          The first few lessons educate one to relax - body and mind, To free one's mind from ALL thought. Physically I find it easy to relax, but mentally it takes a HUGE amount of practice, and I've been trying on and off for years.

          Now I've reached the point at which I CAN do IT (like IM-ing, persistence has paid off), for a max stretch of about 5 minutes. Will work up to 20 now before progressing with book.

          How did I do it? As a previous poster suggested, I focused hard on the black nothingness behind my closed eyes. To begin with my brain was throwing all sorts of "kaleidascopic" images at me, racing around like mad things.

          But eventually, after much practice, heaps of frustration and irritation, I can now close my eyes, see, and think of, nothing. After months of focusing mentally hard on nothing, eventually, like riding a bicycle, it become easier and easier, to the point of being automatic

          I can almost just slip into thinking of nothing now - even if for just 3-5 minutes. I still "see", but just blackness, and anything that tries to infiltrate, I can mentally "ignore" or shrug off now. When a stray thought does try and manifest, I realise, don't get hung up about it, and mentally bring myself back into "check"

          hth
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      • Profile picture of the author Lex87
        Originally Posted by Profit-smart View Post

        I to suffer from this problem. Its a notorious source of sleep deprivation.

        I dont really combat it; I keep a notepad next to my bed. I have an entire file drawer labeled "Ideas" that gets a new entry almost every other day.

        When I'm really restless though, or just desperatly need some solid sleep I'd be lost without one of these.

        SleepMate 980A White Noise Machine Generator

        Just focus on the noise until you fall asleep. Gets me every time
        Wow, between this and my lamp I'm getting great sleep and my depression is really limited, barely effecting me.

        I am telling everyone I know to consider sound generators now. Incredible how they effect some people!
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      • Profile picture of the author blueorca17
        Originally Posted by Profit-smart View Post

        I to suffer from this problem. Its a notorious source of sleep deprivation.

        I dont really combat it; I keep a notepad next to my bed. I have an entire file drawer labeled "Ideas" that gets a new entry almost every other day.

        When I'm really restless though, or just desperatly need some solid sleep I'd be lost without one of these.


        SleepMate 980A White Noise Machine Generator



        Just focus on the noise until you fall asleep. Gets me every time

        That's a great idea. I have an air purifier that I keep on at night that has the same sort of effect. I used to have the same problem with not being able to shut my brain off, but then learned how to meditate. That idea with the color blue is cool, because the point is to really get your brain to think in a linear fashion (thinking about and concentrating on just one thing). It doesn't matter what one thing you think about. If you read about color psychology, blue is a very friendly and relaxing color. It would make sense that he can fall asleep after 10 minutes because of that. Another thing I've found that works really well is lighting a candle and starting at the flame. Find something that can keep your focus for an extended period of time.
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    • Profile picture of the author jjbalagosa
      Originally Posted by 2PercentPlan View Post

      The way I do it is I focus on my breathing, that is the only way to get out of my head. Hope that helps ya.
      This way works the best for me too. I found it in "The Power of Now." Your mind can't focus on more than one thing at a time. So if you put all your concentration on your breathing, like feeling the cool air go into your lungs, then feeling the warmth pushing out, you effectively clear all the other thoughts out of your head.

      You can also look up Wayne Dyer's "gap" method of meditation. It's where you focus on empty spaces between sounds. A method I've read about is getting a metronome and setting it to a very slow beat. Then close your eyes and concentrate on the empty spaces between beats.

      Hope this helps!
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    • Profile picture of the author jasni
      hi,

      When i do something, i'll stop thinking. Just do something that you can focus on....
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  • Profile picture of the author aleserlee
    Thinking is a process ,it is an art. You never know when you are sitting ideal and you are actually crossed with many innovative ideas and beautiful imaginary story. sometimes you reconstruct and remember things. Here I'm trying to convey most of our thinking comes when our brain is ideal. We say ideal mind is devil's workshop but it is not always the case. Most of the cases your thinking process get enhance when you take break from your busy routine.You break the cycle and restart whole mechanism of thought process.

    Sometimes we concentrate and try to reolve some issue but we are unable to get root cause of the problem and solution there itself because we are into it and we are looking at broader and complex way and actually answer and solution is very simple indeed. This is because you need to take break and start all over again. Try fish bone problem solving technique.

    Our thinking process is what all about problem solving. We have problem statement and we require intense thinking. There are various problem solving strategy and one should practice it for better results.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Linley
    pray about it...or just put on some really really loud heavy metal music..no one can think with that stuff cranked up loud!
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  • Profile picture of the author rainspeak
    Check out some of the Deepak Chopra audio books. He gives a really good explanation of meditation regarding how and why. Also look into Abraham-Hicks audios. The answers will come if you seek them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sparhawke
    Decorate the wall with your brains, adorned with a bullet.

    Apart from this way there is no way you are ever going to keep your mind quiet simply because it is like a 3 year old, it will not simply shut up because you want it to.
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    “Thinking is easy, Acting is difficult
    And to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world ~ Goethe”
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Hmmm, I thought the brain never stops thinking. Sometimes, I will awaken to my mind singing in the middle of the night!

      Sometimes, it's trying to solve something that was puzzling me throughout the previous day.

      And even when we're asleep dreaming, isn't our subconscious mind a.ka. our brain in charge of that dream?

      I don't think I want my brain to stop thinking, to me, it would be like my heart stopping beating!

      MissTerraK
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      • Profile picture of the author Hulbert
        Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

        Hmmm, I thought the brain never stops thinking. Sometimes, I will awaken to my mind singing in the middle of the night!

        Sometimes, it's trying to solve something that was puzzling me throughout the previous day.

        And even when we're asleep dreaming, isn't our subconscious mind a.ka. our brain in charge of that dream?

        I don't think I want my brain to stop thinking, to me, it would be like my heart stopping beating!

        MissTerraK
        Haha this made me laugh... nice response like always MissTerrak.
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  • Profile picture of the author Negotiator74
    You only stop thinking when you die...
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    • Profile picture of the author Hulbert
      Originally Posted by Negotiator74 View Post

      You only stop thinking when you die...
      So it's not possible to stop thinking while your living? Does anyone beg to differ?
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      • Profile picture of the author Taking Care
        Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

        So it's not possible to stop thinking while your living? Does anyone beg to differ?
        It depends on what you mean by 'thinking'.
        We obviously want our brain to functioning all the time, but is it considered thinking when the brain sends neuron messages to the body to breath, and plusate blood?

        During meditation it is good to stop thoughts from racing through your mental state to become completely relaxed. One way this is done is to notice when you are thinking of something and allow it to pass by letting it go. Focusing on your deep breathing is suggested as a method, but this too is thinking. It is a less active thought to aid in getting to the place were thinking is not present. The mind continues to function it's subconscious life force needs, but thoughts of things and experiences are null.
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  • Profile picture of the author kckaz
    I found that getting into the habit of meditating 20 minutes a day had a huge long term effect. It didn't seem to work at first, but the thoughts came less and less.

    Focus on breath or listen to guided meditation.

    Also, don't fight the thoughts. Allow them to flow in and out. Eventually they'll slow down. Picture them as fish in flowing stream. Your mind will grab a thought. Imagine it as a fish that you catch and just softly release back into the river.
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    • Profile picture of the author prime777
      Originally Posted by kckaz View Post

      I found that getting into the habit of meditating 20 minutes a day had a huge long term effect. It didn't seem to work at first, but the thoughts came less and less.

      Focus on breath or listen to guided meditation.

      Also, don't fight the thoughts. Allow them to flow in and out. Eventually they'll slow down. Picture them as fish in flowing stream. Your mind will grab a thought. Imagine it as a fish that you catch and just softly release back into the river.
      I agree entirely I do the same every day along with some breathing exercises.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sparhawke
    It is not about having less thoughts, but less misdirected thoughts.

    Imagine if Einstien hadn't been able to stop thinking about jam covered cornflakes on the day he gave us the GToR.

    Thought is the basis of all words, or maybe words are the basis of all thought but I think what is important is how you direct it.
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    “Thinking is easy, Acting is difficult
    And to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world ~ Goethe”
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  • Profile picture of the author webwriter
    I agree with all that was mentioned here. Actually, "stop thinking" may simply mean giving your mind a rest, such as meditating, reading a good novel or watching a good movie.
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    • Profile picture of the author thmark
      One of the best people at explaining this is Roy Masters from Foundation of Human Understanding - Home Page. He also has a free meditation/observation exercise you can download and use to learn to see your thoughts.

      He can be very direct and "tough love" oriented, so if you are easily upset by that, you might look at Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth or something similar (don't recall the exact title).

      The distinction comes down to word based thinking vs wordless understanding. When we think in words, we are running the monkey brain and just regurgitating what we experience in the world around us.

      The mind is a tool, and thoughts are useful, so we have to think to live. But thoughts aren't reality - "a rose by any other name..."

      Our emotions create thoughts which drive emotions in a vicious cycle. We aren't conscious of that process most of the time.

      Learning to see our thoughts or "mind chatter" as Bill Harris calls it helps dissolve them. Roy's exercise is designed to slow down the stream of mind chatter and bring it to our conscious awareness. It's becoming the observer, and learning to watch our thoughts arise.

      Once we can see our thoughts, we can then see that they have sort of a life of their own. We can see that we aren't our thoughts. It creates a split second of space where we become free of them, thus more deeply conscious.

      It is that space where true freedom and creativity are found. It's where the wordless flash of insight comes from.

      That's why people try to stop thinking. But trying to stop thinking about something reinforces the thoughts.

      Energy psychology techniques can help to quickly remove emotional blocks that reinforce the unconscious thinking and behaviors. Ultimately it comes down to intention, and purity of heart.

      "Seek and ye shall find..." comes to mind.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by webwriter View Post

      I agree with all that was mentioned here. Actually, "stop thinking" may simply mean giving your mind a rest, such as meditating, reading a good novel or watching a good movie.
      But if you're watching a movie, isn't your brain thinking in analyzing what it sees?

      And if you're reading, doesn't your brain conjure up the mind pictures the book describes?

      That sounds like thinking, no?

      MissTerraK
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      • Profile picture of the author Ruth P
        Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

        But if you're watching a movie, isn't your brain thinking in analyzing what it sees?

        And if you're reading, doesn't your brain conjure up the mind pictures the book describes?

        That sounds like thinking, no?

        MissTerraK
        For me, it's just about getting my mind off a certain thing. Of course we can't not think about it, but when I watch films I do feel refreshed as it takes my mind of the mental chatter, and instead I just focus on the film. Same when I play the piano etc. This is so important for me sometimes.

        I dread to think what it would be like if we weren't thinking at all lol!
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        • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
          Originally Posted by Ruth P View Post

          For me, it's just about getting my mind off a certain thing. Of course we can't not think about it, but when I watch films I do feel refreshed as it takes my mind of the mental chatter, and instead I just focus on the film. Same when I play the piano etc. This is so important for me sometimes.

          I dread to think what it would be like if we weren't thinking at all lol!
          Yeah, that would be scary, a bunch of walking zombies! Yikes!

          MissTerraK
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  • Profile picture of the author ReneeArticles
    To stop thinking would mean to still your mind. Yet, thoughts always creep in ~ and to stop thinking perhaps may be something that requires a lot more concentration and focus ~ but focus and concentration is directing one's thoughts to naught ~ and therefore still be thinking ~ sheesh ~
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  • Profile picture of the author BonganiS
    To stop thinking would be a hard thing to do. This is because as long as your other physical senses are functioning, your mind will pick from them and focus on what is happening around you.

    The important thing to do is to train your mind not to dwell much on the negative but to focus on the positive things. The things should be those that will put you in a good mood and encourage you. Even when you are asleep your subconscious mind works according to the last thoughts you had. So before you sleep, feed your mind with good staff so that you can wake up relaxed and in a good mood.

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  • Profile picture of the author Mr. Enthusiastic
    Meditation to me is not so much about trying to stop thinking. Instead, it is gently returning your thoughts to only one point, such as your breath going in and out, or a candle flame, or a beautiful view. Your dominant thought then becomes one of simply observing that other ideas come and go, without the usual striving to hook them into elaborate trains of thought.
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  • Profile picture of the author hipa420
    The answer of this point is only one when the person die it stop thinking other wise no person have control that the do not want to think.
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  • Profile picture of the author THY
    Well personally I don't let it stop unless my brain is really tired. I don't see there's a need to unless you want to refresh your brain so that it can stay focused for some important task. If that's the case, then I'll just head over to sleep to clear off my mind, that's all.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ruth P
    I see the points above about never stopping thinking until you die - I'm sure that's true. But in another way, I do like to just shut my brain up sometimes. Working online I'm sure you all empathise with the fact that you can have a million and one things on your mind - not to mention the new ideas that always pop up!

    Sometimes I need to take myself away from it. I find one of the best ways, for me, is to play music (something which I need to do more of). When I am playing the piano, I am focused on the music and I feel that's a different kind of thinking - and a break that I really need. I also often get it when I watch a film. I also really like listening to audiobooks. Depending on who's reading them, the sound can really calm my mind.

    So I guess it's all about a different kind of thinking, to get certain kinds of thoughts out of my mind just for a little while, so I can refresh.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mandy Swift
    Hi Hulbert, Research shows that only around 20% of our thoughts are 'conscious thoughts' (i.e. thoughts that we are in contorl of) each day. The other 80% of thoughts that we have, happen at the level of our 'subconscious'. So to ask a question like "How do I stop thinking" is to ask a question like "How do I stop my heart beating or "How do I stop my food digesting." The subconscious functions on 'autopilot' so the answer is it would be pretty much impossible! The good news, however, is that by feeding our conscious mind with the 'right stuff', we can influence the thoughts, feelings and belief systems that we have at a subconscious level and therefore influence the direction that our subconscious thougths are taking us - up or down! Hope that helps. I have written a couple of articles on this topic. You, or anybody that may be interested, can view them in the success strategies section of my blog. Happy thinking
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  • Profile picture of the author successfulmom
    Personally, I don't want to stop thinking! LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author samthor
    meditation can help keep things undercontrol
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  • Profile picture of the author Lex87
    I have a light therapy machine that works wonders. I also stockup on Vitamin D and Magnesium supplements in the winter months.
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  • Profile picture of the author Woody C
    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    . So, how do you personally stop thinking?
    I use this: Holosync by Centerpointe : Guaranteed to produce deep, super-pleasurable meditative states, razor-sharp thinking, quantum leaps in self-awareness.

    It works wonders. Just close your eyes and sit for thirty minutes. I actually find that I am not thinking as much, if at all, by the end of each session. They also claim that it is physically changing how the two hemispheres interact.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nick Barton
    I bought a Mindlab sound/light machine a few years ago because my mind was overactive and I never relaxed. After about three months use I had learned to relax and turn off when I chose to. Best thing I ever purchased. Still use it regularly.

    It is almost impossible to switch off completely but if you train yourself to visualise something, I use fluffy white clouds in a beautiful blue sky, you can concentrate on that and just drift off.
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  • Profile picture of the author he_who_brings_order
    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    There are many quotes out there that involve thinking, from the ones of Law of Attraction to famous quotes like Descartes', "I think, therefore I am." This led many people to constantly think all day.

    Even when you are relaxed someplace quiet or taking a jog in the park, your mind can still be in thinking mode. So, how do you personally stop thinking?
    I personally love these ways:

    - Deep breathing

    - Lying quietly in bed. I just relax all the muscles in the body, and let me to be there.

    - I do something simple - but I in my mind I do not give a name to this work. I do not give a label to work. I just work.
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    • Profile picture of the author flipkid
      Haha I love this post!

      I've had this problem for as long as I can remember. Songs would play in my head during the day and business ideas would rotate like a pencil sharpener in the middle of the night. It just seems to be part of the entrepreneurial brain. Even in my graduation video you can see me looking at the ground singing a song in my own world.

      This may sound counter-intuitive, but the way I got over this is that I realized that I was just overstimulated. My cell phone, my computer, my blu-rays, etc. I was spending 10 hours a day online then watching TV at night. All of that time our subconscious is trying to talk to us. We need to listen and interpret what it's saying or it becomes 'noise' in the back of our heads. It manifests itself in sleep because that's the only time we are silent.

      I slowed my brain by trading my office and computer for a a quiet room with a pad & paper. Yeah, it's old school but it works for me. Now I can get done in 2 hours online what use to take me 10 and not follow every impulse I have online because I just can't when there's no computer in the room!

      Our brains need rest, but in our digital society we are conditioned to constantly be stimulated. This is very new to the human race and many of us are not reacting well to it. I know I didn't. Take it away, and stimulate your body as much as your mind you won't miss it after a few days, I promise.
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  • Profile picture of the author AdvS1
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    • Profile picture of the author Hulbert
      Originally Posted by AdvS1 View Post

      Hi Hulbert,

      I'm curious to find out why you asked this question?

      You said:
      "So it's not possible to stop thinking while your living? Does anyone beg to differ?"

      Are you looking for ways to actually stop yourself from thinking?
      And if so, what would replace it?

      What do you actually want to do?


      Regards,
      AdvS1.
      Yes I am. I think thinking is causing people to suffer. The second biggest disease on earth is depression and it's because people think. Besides behavior therapy such as "thought stopping" or modern physical devices, I would like to really find the answer to stop thinking "without having to think" about it. But as others mentioned above, it might be impossible to do unless you are willing to risk your life for it.
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      • Profile picture of the author SuccessFlavor510
        Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

        Yes I am. I think thinking is causing people to suffer. The second biggest disease on earth is depression and it's because people think. Besides behavior therapy such as "thought stopping" or modern physical devices, I would like to really find the answer to stop thinking "without having to think" about it. But as others mentioned above, it might be impossible to do unless you are willing to risk your life for it.
        Yes THINKING does cause people to suffer, and people in this world dont see it in that matter. Thats why we THINK its so normal cause EVERYONE is suffering from it.

        So i'm pointing out 2 key points that u just said above and I will explain on a deeper level that you are ready to TRANSCEND (Going Beyond) the Mind.

        #1 You are AWARE that the Mind is in fact Insane and it creates these labels that we call people like "depression" "bi polar" all the other NEGATIVE Mind states.

        That seeing or Awareness, that the Mind creates these problems and all problems is the beginning of going beyond the Mind so that every thought that arises and SAYS something loses importance and it doesnt affect your Feeling and Create a Negative state? Understand? please tell me if u do. Read it a couple times slowly. =D

        You Realizing the Mind and its Content is Insane is a birth of the real self. Beyond the mind..... In the Seeing of WHO YOU ARE NOT.... (Mind) WHo YOU are will arise as you... -Eckhart Tolle

        #2 This statement (" I would like to really find the answer to stop thinking "without having to think" about it.")

        The Answer is already arising within you, start OBSERVING the voice in your head but DO NOT JUDGE what it says. Listen but do not Follow the thought so let it play out like a cloud passing by in the sky. You can Watch the cloud but you dont have to follow it. The same principle here that you Can Listen to a though in your head but you dont have to follow it, cause if you do then a negative emotion comes and then u have an episode and you suffer.

        So the one that watches the Thinker in your head is who you truly are and you CAN THINK INDEPENDENTLY of your thoughts. Know that the voice in your head is NOT YOU, its just a conditioned mind pattern playing out so let it be.... Please let me know if u have any more questions to GO BEYOND The Mind.

        Check out this link and listen to the video and get back to me.
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        • Profile picture of the author ormes21
          Stop........I have the answer to your question and that is

          ECKHART TOLLE

          "THE POWER OF NOW"

          Before you think this is a load of rubbish or hype please just visit amazon for yourself and see that (in the uk) there are 1,105 customer reviews and it has 4.5 stars.

          I read this book 3 years ago. What I learned from reading this book really changed my life and the way I think.

          This is what I got out of it, and I find it really powerful. WARNING what I am about to write is probably going to make me sound like a hippy and new agey.

          Time is an illusion, the past and future does not exist. Let me repeat that again, the past and future does not exist. The only thing that we ever have is the present moment.
          Yet nearly all of us never live in the moment because we are always stressing about the future or clutching onto the past. We never really live life for the moment yet we wonder how it passed us by. We obsess over the goal that is a year away, yes have a goal but make sure you walk the path that gets you there by taking it one step at a time.

          OK STOP and think about the next paragraph -

          The only time you take action is in the present, this moment right now you either act or you let it pass by. Can you think of anything you accomplished at any other time?
          Eckhart tolle teaches how to control your mind and your thoughts. His book covers your problem about how you cant stop thinking.

          I have not read it for a while so what I am writing might sound crap.

          Peoples stress mainly consists of things invented inside their own head.They stress about the future things that have not even happened yet!

          It sounds crazy but you do it. You stress about the future "what if I go to chat to her but she rejects me" or "what if I stand up to make my speech in public and I mess up" but your speech is'nt for another week and your already feeling nervous.
          Your mind is creating negative thoughts and the problem does not exist, the problem you face has not happened yet! However you are sabotaging yourself.

          So instead of stressing, how about saying to yourself "how can I stress over something that has not happened yet!!" When you find yourself getting worried, take a step back and observe the thought. Doing this can be really powerful because you will start to see negative thoughts that occur regularly and just by observing them you actually stop the thought from taking over your mind/affecting your emotions.
          How many times have you had a thought or worried about something and it goes on to ruin your day?

          Example - think of a time when someone did something bad to you, like really bad or something that really annoyed you. FEEL THE EMOTIONS YOU FELT. I guarantee you start to feel angry or upset.
          You feel the emotion in your body but is this situation you are imagining really happening right now? NO! Its in your head but your mind still makes you experience it, the body treats it like its real. Thats the power of your brain and it can ruin your day if you let it.

          I dont know where im going with this anymore. Eckhart tolle basicly goes on to teach about living in the present, yes your mind is a powerful tool and so is thinking so use it when it is needed. When you want to "get away froim thinking" so to speak, just take a look around you and be "in the moment" appreciate the beauty of the stars or the harmoney of your breathing (now ive turned into a hippy). Look outside your window and look at that tree. Have you really appreciated its beauty or is it something that has just been there, something you just pass every day.

          He also talks about seperating youself from your ego. Your ego as far as I can make out is everything you think you are/ or all the material things you think you need that make you who you think you are - :confused:.
          Let me clarify, when you were first born as a baby who was you? You just were, you just existed. And then you got given a name "joe" and went to school and somone might have told you you was cool. So suddenly you became "joe" the cool guy. Then you got older earned millions had all these nice cars and you think that it is these material things that make you who you are. When really and simply you just are, you are not these things, you acquired them to live a better life.

          I think its important to know the difference, between your ego and yourself. Wars have been started over ego. Every time I go out to a club, every week there is a fight because someone looked at another guy in a funny way so he had to prove to his ego he was better by throwing a punch.
          When really you can just step back from your ego for one moment and say "is this worth it right now?"

          -----------------------------------------------------------

          LOL I just went through and read this, it was fun. I dont know what else to say or where my point is going other than I think eckhart tolle maybe the answer to your thinking problem.

          Sorry for hijacking the thread,

          Andy

          Signature
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          • Profile picture of the author SuccessFlavor510
            Originally Posted by ormes21 View Post

            Stop........I have the answer to your question and that is

            ECKHART TOLLE

            "THE POWER OF NOW"

            Before you think this is a load of rubbish or hype please just visit amazon for yourself and see that (in the uk) there are 1,105 customer reviews and it has 4.5 stars.

            I read this book 3 years ago. What I learned from reading this book really changed my life and the way I think.

            This is what I got out of it, and I find it really powerful. WARNING what I am about to write is probably going to make me sound like a hippy and new agey.

            Time is an illusion, the past and future does not exist. Let me repeat that again, the past and future does not exist. The only thing that we ever have is the present moment.
            Yet nearly all of us never live in the moment because we are always stressing about the future or clutching onto the past. We never really live life for the moment yet we wonder how it passed us by. We obsess over the goal that is a year away, yes have a goal but make sure you walk the path that gets you there by taking it one step at a time.

            OK STOP and think about the next paragraph -

            The only time you take action is in the present, this moment right now you either act or you let it pass by. Can you think of anything you accomplished at any other time?
            Eckhart tolle teaches how to control your mind and your thoughts. His book covers your problem about how you cant stop thinking.

            I have not read it for a while so what I am writing might sound crap.

            Peoples stress mainly consists of things invented inside their own head.They stress about the future things that have not even happened yet!

            It sounds crazy but you do it. You stress about the future "what if I go to chat to her but she rejects me" or "what if I stand up to make my speech in public and I mess up" but your speech is'nt for another week and your already feeling nervous.
            Your mind is creating negative thoughts and the problem does not exist, the problem you face has not happened yet! However you are sabotaging yourself.

            So instead of stressing, how about saying to yourself "how can I stress over something that has not happened yet!!" When you find yourself getting worried, take a step back and observe the thought. Doing this can be really powerful because you will start to see negative thoughts that occur regularly and just by observing them you actually stop the thought from taking over your mind/affecting your emotions.
            How many times have you had a thought or worried about something and it goes on to ruin your day?

            Example - think of a time when someone did something bad to you, like really bad or something that really annoyed you. FEEL THE EMOTIONS YOU FELT. I guarantee you start to feel angry or upset.
            You feel the emotion in your body but is this situation you are imagining really happening right now? NO! Its in your head but your mind still makes you experience it, the body treats it like its real. Thats the power of your brain and it can ruin your day if you let it.

            I dont know where im going with this anymore. Eckhart tolle basicly goes on to teach about living in the present, yes your mind is a powerful tool and so is thinking so use it when it is needed. When you want to "get away froim thinking" so to speak, just take a look around you and be "in the moment" appreciate the beauty of the stars or the harmoney of your breathing (now ive turned into a hippy). Look outside your window and look at that tree. Have you really appreciated its beauty or is it something that has just been there, something you just pass every day.

            He also talks about seperating youself from your ego. Your ego as far as I can make out is everything you think you are/ or all the material things you think you need that make you who you think you are - :confused:.
            Let me clarify, when you were first born as a baby who was you? You just were, you just existed. And then you got given a name "joe" and went to school and somone might have told you you was cool. So suddenly you became "joe" the cool guy. Then you got older earned millions had all these nice cars and you think that it is these material things that make you who you are. When really and simply you just are, you are not these things, you aquired them to live a better life.

            I think its important to know the difference, between your ego and yourself. Wars have been started over ego. Every time I go out to a club, every week there is a fight because someone looked at another guy in a funny way so he had to prove to his ego he was better by throwing a punch.
            When really you can just step back from your ego for one moment and say "is this worth it right now?"

            -----------------------------------------------------------

            LOL I just went through and read this, it was fun. I dont know what else to say or where my point is going other than I think eckhart tolle maybe the answer to your thinking problem.

            Sorry for hijacking the thread,

            Andy

            hahahaha Yes My FRIEND!!!!!! I gave him a video to check out as Well. I Love The Power of NOW and a New Earth!!! Spread on brutha!!!! =D
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            • Profile picture of the author ormes21
              How random was that!!
              Signature
              Did you ever hear the famous story behind the 14 Million dollar day? Featuring Frank Kern, Jeff Walker, John Reese, Kelly Felix and Mike Long. Definitely a few golden nuggets worth writing down, click here to read the full story (it's free, no opt in)
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              • Profile picture of the author stellamary
                It is too difficult to manage even a minute..because It is the decision of the God...We can't change that.We should follow that and should not to make research..It will give harm....what happened most early.....in the Eve life.
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              • Profile picture of the author Isaachun
                Read Deepak Chopra a lot and is fascinated by his 'finding the gap between the thought' theory. I'm just starting out practicing mediation for 15 mins a day. It's been almost a month now. It's still really hard to control the constant noise and intruding thoughts.

                I find that my mind is too noisy most of the time, and so far, meditation does make me feel calm after each session.

                I feel that meditation can help you gain control and direct your mind. The one thing that I find is a probem for me practicing the law of attraction is the mind has a habit of feeding you conflicting thoughts. I'm practicing meditation to focus my mind on a single thing and quiet conflicting thoughts.

                The law of attraction has worked wonders for me but is still inconsistent on some things, mainly due to habitual doubtful thought patterns. I think the ability to 'stop' thinking by meditation can help.


                Cheers,
                Isaac
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              • Profile picture of the author mrdomains
                Subduing the noise inside the head with exterior noise never worked for me. Just pushing the problem forward.

                Antar Mouna
                It´s a meditation but you only really need to learn the first part. Interpretations differ but the objective is to block the noise by focusing on your own body. At least that's what I did many many years ago when the head was bursting open. I combined it with taking suffering to the max. "Let´s see how far this goes since it can´t get any worse... right?"

                Wrong. But, if you get over the crest you learn that life goes on and no, you didn´t desintegrate in anguish. Things become calmer. It´s like having been to war. You learn to block things. Anyway, the Antar Mouna thing is pretty effective if you can handle focusing on yourself. really hard in the beginning, mindnumbing... but after a while, it´s the best sleeping pill.

                Counting sheep is actualy the same thing but with Antar Mouna you later learn to accept and look at things for what they are without emotion or letting it affect you. That was my problem at the time. I let myself be effected by my own noise in infinate loops.

                Whatever it is, you can beat it.
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              • Profile picture of the author cody123
                Meditation is the key to quiet the mind, and it's so easy. If you can't quiet your mind, try a guided meditation to start.
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              • Profile picture of the author linkbeasts
                I use a fish tank and watch the fish swim around lazily in the water and focus on just that before I know it I am relaxed.
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                • Profile picture of the author Ian Jackson
                  Originally Posted by inetcadet View Post

                  You can not stop thinking, what you can do about that is to have such strong concentration power that unwanted thought do not come into your mind. And even if they do, they go unnoticed. Once you have concentration power, you can chose what you want to think and what not to.
                  ...and focus that concentration on - nothing. This pretty much constitutes stopping your thinking anyway - see my post on p2 of thread

                  Originally Posted by WildwindE View Post

                  I don't know if someone said this or not, because I didn't read the whole page, but here it is in a nutshell:

                  BECOME THE SPACE THE THOUGHT PASSES THROUGH. Buddhists monks describe thoughts like wisps of clouds passing through their mind.


                  Laurie
                  My Wife and I were talking about this the other day, and came to the conclusion that time/age could indeed be passing through us, rather than us passing through them.
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              • Profile picture of the author Mikael-C
                You don't really need to stop thinking but you need to start to choose your thought...and stay focus on the right face...

                Also try Vippasana - make a retreat during 10 days - it'll be a good start to learn to control your mind and keep focus...

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              • Profile picture of the author Chucks Ihebuzor
                I don't think you really can ...

                Maybe the focus should be on how to block out irrelevant things from your mind.

                To your success,
                Chucks.
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              • Profile picture of the author Melvin Truth Holloway
                I would like to keep my brain thinking on autopilot at all times. Have you ever been in the shower - then suddenly you thought of the most brilliant marketing idea? That is usually the idea that ends up making you thousands in your online business.
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              • Profile picture of the author tk226
                Like others I too failed in accomplishing the task of shutting off my mind's station. I think, I stop it when I fall sleep but the truth of the matter is - even when I'm sleeping my mind is thinking and generating dreams.
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      • Profile picture of the author SuccessFlavor510
        Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

        Yes I am. I think thinking is causing people to suffer. The second biggest disease on earth is depression and it's because people think. Besides behavior therapy such as "thought stopping" or modern physical devices, I would like to really find the answer to stop thinking "without having to think" about it. But as others mentioned above, it might be impossible to do unless you are willing to risk your life for it.
        Yes the mind is Insane and your Aware of that so you see it for what it is so you Realize that the Mind creates problems. So what you can start to notice is YOUR THOUGHTS as they arise in your head - listen to the voice in your head. Observe the Thinker but dont judge what you hear so ALLOW the though to be as it is without resisting it.

        Let the thought play out and watch it like a cloud in the sky, so you can watch it pass by without following it. So when you Listen to a thought let it pass by in the same way you allow a cloud to be. Then if you let it be a space may be created in between the thoughts then you may notice the voice stop for a brief moment.

        With practice and full ATTENTION in the present moment your awareness will grow.

        I'm digging deeper than what others are telling you, If You find out how the mind operates you can Go Beyond it.

        Deep Suffering and Pain Transformed my consciousness so I AM NOW aware of my Mind but it doesnt control me anymore cause i know its just random mind movements. When I need to use my mind for Practical items I can use it but no longer does it run my life or my way of Being.... =D

        Please watch this and tell me what you guys FEEL from it not WHAT YOU THINK...

        Eckhart Tolle - The End of Suffering

        Get back to me guys and gals, I know everyone here wants happiness cause if you dont then your life is being run by the Mind(EGO).

        Happiness is a Natural State of Our Being... =D
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  • Profile picture of the author Vikram73
    I'd say it's impossible to not stop thinking but it is very possible to enter into an incredibly relaxed state (trance, hypnosis) or develop very keen focus. I find the following helps:

    1) No Internet. Disconnect and focus on writing ads/articles etc. and activities that can be done offline.
    2) No blackberry/iPhone - Didn't think this would be possible but it is. I credit Tim Ferris with this one (4 Hour Work Week). I went through a real panic period when I got rid of my iPhone but it turned out to be not that big a deal. If it's important they can call me.
    3) Remove Clutter from your workspace (we are easily distracted and lose focus because of clutter).
    4) Develop a plan and follow your plan. Even if you're distracted with some random story, blog posting, forum posting etc. Just note it down for consideration later on and stick to the plan.
    5) Meditate 20 minutes a day. I watch a video from Paul McKenna several times a week that helps me to focus. I wake up very refreshed from it.

    I setup reminders in Google Calendar with tasks to help me stay focused.

    So I don't think you can "stop thinking" but I do think you can focus your thoughts into one area which you'll find incredibly helpful.

    -Vikram
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  • Profile picture of the author SuccessFlavor510
    How to Focus Attention from the MIND to Awareness is simple but it takes practice until it BECOMES a Way Of Life.

    The Doorway into The Present Moment and away from the mind is used with the Sensed Perceptions. True Looking and Listening.

    #1 Conscious Breathing: Close Your Eyes, look at the BLACK SPACE Behind Your Eyelids. Take a Breath, a deep one and Redirect Your Attention from the VOICE in Your head to the sound of the Breath. Listen FULLY to the Sound of the Inhalation and Exhalation. THEN Notice the Silence after the Breath and there will be a SPACE of No Mind where the Voice stops talking yet YOU are still there. It might be short until the Mind says something but keep practicing and the Gaps will get bigger. =D

    Affirmation: "AM I still Breathing?" Helps Direct ATTENTION to the Breath.

    #2 Feeling the Inner Body: This can also be called Inner Awareness or Becoming Body Conscious. First take a Conscious Breath then Focus your Attention on a body Part like the Hands. Can you Feel a bit of aliveness or tingling in your hands? Direct Your Focus on that part and hold on to that wave of energy and then flood your body with it. The aliveness is always there and the whole body is a source of energy but covered up by the mind. That will help Bring attention away from the mind to the body.

    Thanks Guys and Gals, let me know if anyone is having trouble... =D

    Its so Simple that YOUR MIND Will say otherwise...hahaha
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  • Profile picture of the author SuccessFlavor510
    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    There are many quotes out there that involve thinking, from the ones of Law of Attraction to famous quotes like Descartes', "I think, therefore I am." This led many people to constantly think all day.

    Even when you are relaxed someplace quiet or taking a jog in the park, your mind can still be in thinking mode. So, how do you personally stop thinking?
    I Love YOUR Quote from Descartes', "I think, therefore I am."

    Yesss!!!! that Statement has been Misinterpreted. IF FACT Descartes' found the ROOT of EGO, the False Mind Made SELF. Since the Collective is so Mind Identified they cant SEE past the Story in the Head and the Mental Beliefs and Judgment's and Momentum it has over us.

    No Self, No Problem -Buddah

    Means No MIND and NO Story = No Problems hahahah

    I Have ALLL GOOD Days! Its Possible but letting go of yourself IS vital is you want to find Peace of Mind.

    What "Peace of Mind" means is that You DONT take the Content of Your MIND so Seriously..... Then Peace arises out of that Awareness.
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    • Profile picture of the author knowwow
      Originally Posted by SuccessFlavor510 View Post

      I Love YOUR Quote from Descartes', "I think, therefore I am."

      Yesss!!!! that Statement has been Misinterpreted. IF FACT Descartes' found the ROOT of EGO, the False Mind Made SELF. Since the Collective is so Mind Identified they cant SEE past the Story in the Head and the Mental Beliefs and Judgment's and Momentum it has over us.

      No Self, No Problem -Buddah

      Means No MIND and NO Story = No Problems hahahah

      I Have ALLL GOOD Days! Its Possible but letting go of yourself IS vital is you want to find Peace of Mind.

      What "Peace of Mind" means is that You DONT take the Content of Your MIND so Seriously..... Then Peace arises out of that Awareness.
      I wish you didn't try to persuade people that their sense of their own selves was bad for them in some way.

      What is the good in denying one's own mind/self.

      Plus, you yourself have no idea of what that quotation means either. In his work "Meditations", Descartes takes up the challenge of proving God's existence. That above quote is from one of the first steps he takes. The work is known to modernize the dualist view that people have a mind AND a body. This has been a very big problem for philosophers for so long because they weren't able to describe how the two talked to each other (Descartes found his answer in making up a gland in the brain).

      The whole piece is almost universally rejected today. The above quote is one of those quotes taken out of context. Even when he uses the word "think" he makes it as equal to feeling or awareness or consciousness [not as brain activity].


      Anyway, my question to OP is why he would want not to think. Do you realize that thinkers are getting to be a minority? Be happy that you are still alive and not an all- consuming zombie of some sort.

      OK, I am just being rhetorical in the above... I agree with many other posters that it is impossible scientifically to not think, but if you want to go with a low CPU/RAM consuming thoughts, I have found music to be a solution. I usually put on something that makes me think not in terms of things but in terms of colors or gradients. I tend to burn my brain thinking when I go to bed (mostly dreaming about all the intricate details about my future), so I go with new wavish stuff. For taking a break in thinking I go watch a sit-com online (like "2 and a half men", not "Lost") that almost immediately stops consumption of brain functions to just seeing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sam Mlambo
    Stop thinking about what you're going to do... And just do it!

    Tap yourself whenever you get lost in your thoughts to become present again. That's pretty easy... Right?

    - Sam
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  • Profile picture of the author wemakeiteasy
    Try surviving without anything for a day. No computer, tv, cellphone, reading, radio, anything.

    Just be with yourself.

    You'll learn a lot from this experience.
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    • Profile picture of the author kozmotm
      I close my eyes and concentrate on my breathing. I inhale , stop for 5 sec and exhale and stop for 5 sec.

      The 5 sec break is important.

      I do this for as long as i feel. Sometimes i do the "ohm meditation" .
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
    Learn to meditate and let go of your thoughts.
    Learn Tai-Chi and focus on moving meditation.
    You will never stop your thoughts but you can
    learn to relax and let them come nd go without
    getting caught up in them.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mr. Enthusiastic
      Originally Posted by SteveSki View Post

      Learn to meditate and let go of your thoughts.
      Learn Tai-Chi and focus on moving meditation.
      You will never stop your thoughts but you can
      learn to relax and let them come nd go without
      getting caught up in them.
      I really like the two points you made: your motion is controllable even if your thoughts aren't, and thoughts continuously come and go but we can choose to just observe. Thanks for adding this perspective.
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  • Profile picture of the author bwtech4
    I don't and sometimes it can be rather frustrating. My mind is always going. I think from the time I wake up until the time I try to fall asleep. I have learned to just go with it and accept it for what it's worth. This makes me a person that has great ideas but I have trouble putting those ideas in to action. I work well with others and sometimes I have to complete a project. Ever need a team player? I have lots of great ideas.
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  • Profile picture of the author f4ll3rs
    Sleep. That's the only way I can find myself stops thinking. Nothing more.
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  • Profile picture of the author SuccessFlavor510
    Hahah Great Answer. Lolz =D
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  • Profile picture of the author Pacman131
    You can't, even when you're thinking about stop thinking your thinking.

    When you sleep you think. I think it's just part of nature
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  • Profile picture of the author jewin
    Hulbert -

    Read "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. He has a very good system for clearing your mind. Very, very good in fact. and for the record, once practiced, you can clear your mind at will, even when under stress (in fact, when you're stressed its very helpful to clear your mind!), and it can be done for long periods of time, not just a fleeting moment.



    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    There are many quotes out there that involve thinking, from the ones of Law of Attraction to famous quotes like Descartes', "I think, therefore I am." This led many people to constantly think all day.

    Even when you are relaxed someplace quiet or taking a jog in the park, your mind can still be in thinking mode. So, how do you personally stop thinking?
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  • Profile picture of the author constant
    I stop thinking by been happy
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    • Profile picture of the author Arnold808
      If I really want to stop thinking and "get out of my head", then I'll watch a movie or use another form of escape. As far as calming my thoughts down, though, I'm pretty good at doing this on my own.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jo W
    If your thinking only positive things then i don't see a problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author simmonsmike7
    If you really want to stop thinking try meditation. It won't work on your first day, but with enough time, effort, and energy you can master the art and be free of worry - give it a shot.
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  • Profile picture of the author BCNKing
    I'd really recommend Eckhart Tolle's book The Poker Of Now.
    To me it has been the best way to slow down my mind and get closest to "not thinking".
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  • Profile picture of the author mikey21
    IMHO you cannot "stop your thoughts". You can't just stop having thousands of thoughts per minute.

    What it really is, is "trascending your thoughts".

    Meaning they are there, and you are aware of them, but you are not your thoughts - you are not attached to them emotionally or energetically, and you don't follow them into other thoughts and ultimately stories that they create.

    Think of it this way: you are not your body, but while you're alive you can't "stop the body". When you go to bed at night though, the reality of your body is no longer in your conscious awareness (i.e you are in your dreams).

    It's kind of the same thing with thoughts. The trick is to transcend them, shift your focus.
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  • Profile picture of the author yst
    You mean stop worrying? I don't think you can completely. You could try to just get away with the problem and spend time doing something you really enjoy. But easier said than done.

    If you mean stop thinking, can you please explain why you would want to?
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  • Profile picture of the author jimlovingu2
    　

    Ok, ok, ok folks! All I've read so far seems like good advice,(except maybe the one about the mind being insane, medication might help anyone who believes that ).

    Just kidding. On a serious note, the mind is not insane. It is a POWERFUL tool. It is to be used; it should not use you. Someone wiser than I said:"The mind is a powerful willing slave or a horribly cruel master", or something like that. in other words, you need to be the master. Now how do you do that? I'll tell you what I think in a minute.



    I too, am a Tolle fan. i too believe that all there is is NOW. There is some logic to it, after all when you think about the past, WHEN are you thinking about it? You're thinking about it NOW. And the same goes for thinking about the future, you have to think about it NOW. But whether you believe that or not, the fact is NOW is the only thing you can actually control. All the power is in the NOW. I tell my client to think of this way: Imagine you are in a motor boat on a still, placid lake, now look behind you, you can see where your (you) boat has been by its wake and trail. Now look ahead, you can see undisturbed, still waters. Now imagine you are heading toward a sand bar or floating log. You see disaster coming. What do you do? The trail behind you has no power to help you. It has no power over that boat what so ever. The still waters ahead has no power. No help there. But wait! the boat has a motor and a rudder. You can slow down or speed up; your can turn in any direction, your are safe. A corny analogy but it makes my point. The trail represents the past; the calm, still water represents the future (infinite potential); and the boat ( where you are in control) represents the NOW. All the power is in the NOW.



    Now back to how to be the master instead of the slave. I recommend a qualified, certified hypnotherapist. We specialize in what you are going through(yes I am one . I;m not sure if it is allowed so I won't recommend one, but there are many good ones around. In fact, your presenting problem is an easy one to deal with, so even a beginner would be able to help you in 1 or 2 sessions. I haven't posted enough to have a sig. but, if you google james loving dot com, you will find the Blue Rose series of hypnosis CDs. There's one on that subject that is very effective.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lett
    You probably can't stop thinking, but there are some good ways to refresh your mind:
    • Sleep
    • Hot bath
    • Watching funny movie or spending time with friends
    • Sports and fitness
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  • Profile picture of the author futurestrategy
    You are thinking too much when you are having the same thoughts repeatedly. If you need to stop these thoughts, you should relax and try meditation. Meditation will help you learn how to release your thoughts.
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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    Haha....Just think "What's my next thought going to be?"
    Or just meditate....
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  • Profile picture of the author hotftuna
    "Stop Thinking" is what meditation is all about.

    When you meditate, you focus on one thought (mantra). After a while, your mind transends thought and goes some place special.
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  • Profile picture of the author tylerdrun
    Suffering is burning emotional energy on the uncontrollable. You don't control your past or the future. Right now, you don't control your goals. You can only set intentions and take steps to achieve it. If you don't take steps, you are just suffering.

    You don't control people too. So don't expect people to behave the way you want them to behave or don't obsess over one particular person. Believe in abundance.

    The keys to stop suffering:
    - BE IN THE NOW
    - DRINK LOTS OF WATER
    - FOCUS ON YOUR BREATHING
    - LET ALL THOUGHTS DRIFT AND GIVE YOUR FULL ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

    When you are on high with booze or weed, you are fully in the present moment. The state you experience is heavenly because your relay station the mind stops funcitioning. You won't receive any input data. So it's okay to booze if you are ready to live with hangovers and etc.

    There are three ways to alleviate suffering:
    RESTRICT YOURSELF AND BE DISCIPLINED - This is the life many of our ancestors have lived. Sadly, we can't live it anymore. Most of them didn't suffer. But, THEY NEVER LIVED. THey just existed. In other words, lead a religious life and do what religion tells you to do without thinking.

    TANTRIC WAY - Go out and accomplish all your desires. You'll feel contentment if you have done these things in a courageous(the right a.k.a legitimate way). Naturally, you'll stop suffering and end your life. SUCKS, right.

    TYLER DURDEN WAY - Living the life you truly want to live and doing the things you truly want to do. In other words, the life of a ZEN.
    - You are aware of your self and know your limits(your observing capacity).
    - You are courageous in everything you do(courage isn't fearlessness or bravery. It's just doing the right thing. )
    - You demonstrate wisdom to gain leadership
    - You share your values and help other people surrender to their destiny
    - You consciously work on your character
    - You don't give a damn about what others think of you
    - You can get anything you want-
    - If you want something, you try to get it if it's only worth it. And if you don't get, you are not supposed to feel angry or sad. Letting go off all emotional attachment
    - You provide value and help the world find truth
    - You are a survivor and a TRUE WARRIOR
    - You have a sense of humor about yourself
    - You don't waste time trying to figure things out as all of it is a mystery
    - You just act by letting your instincts guide you(I don't mean the intuitive self)
    - You are counter intuitive
    - You have made your talents into strengths
    - You Evolve. You are never complete.
    - When confronted by death, you say - Mission accomplished. I'm satisified with what I've done in this life and am ready for a greater journey.
    But sadly this is how most people are: Terrified. Grief Stricken. Oh my god, what are my kids gonna do. How is my wife gonna live without me. What about my new hayabusa, blah, blah, blah.


    This is how a ZEN leads his life. Trust me, whatever I said is not complete. It can never be complete as being a Zen is a never ending journey. It just goes on and on.


    PS: I guess this thread has been hijacked.
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Deegan
    Interesting topic...I've had some solid success in slowing down and quieting my mind the more I use the GTD (methodology) along with the release technique (sedona method/abundance course).

    GTD helps a lot since a main component of the system is freeing your psychic ram and closing your minds open loops. There is definite sciene behind it. I can explain more if you'd like but your best bet is just checking out GTD for your self.

    The release technique is also fantastic in quieting things...
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  • Profile picture of the author veeronica
    Someone suggested Yoga to me coz i have the same problem it helps relax the body and clears the mind.
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  • Profile picture of the author mimbiz
    Read a lot here about this Tolle fellow. Never heard of tolle before, but it appears like he believes as I do. There is only NOW, this very moment. It's all we have and all past and future is illusion, memory, or whatever you wish to desrcibe it other than being reality. Only this moment is reality and only this moment do you have an opportunity to do, take action, to acomplish. Right now is all there is.

    Now as far as not thinking goes, I minimize mind chatter by meditating. simply laying in bed still and quietly and thinking about nothing. Yes nothing, starting by saying it to myself. nothing, nothing, nothing, just seeing black, no colors, just nothing...... .. Of course I am thinking of nothing this way, but nothing eliminates all other thoughts and is what I thnk of till I fall asleep. Nothing...,nothing..., nothing.....zzzzzzzzzz
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  • Profile picture of the author harry12
    no body can stop it but meditation is the only way to relax.
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  • Profile picture of the author HayleyWriter
    Why would you want to stop thinking? Our creativity works best when we open ourselves up to thinking. Even when I am doing something else, I find my brain works on whatever I need to be creative about and that makes my writing much better.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jake Dennert
    It's tough for me to ever get myself to stop thinking, and it gets pretty irritating sometimes.

    Don't know how many times I've been told that I over-analyze everything, especially when it comes to IM.

    The best method I've found so far is exercise. It's something I've always loved to do, and if I don't do SOME kind of exercise every single day I just don't feel right.

    But even that doesn't STOP my thinking all together. My mind keeps chuggin' along, but at least the exercise takes the wheel for a little while and gives everything else a break.

    jaked10
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  • Profile picture of the author Edk
    I find this relatively easy to do. So we all have problems which would take up our attention and interfere with 'not thinking'. What I do is concentrate and work on the BIGGEST problem. Do my best on that. While that is happening I'm less agitated than I otherwisr would be and so am readily able to 'not think'. That works for me
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  • Profile picture of the author DamianK
    I like to spend, at the least, a total of an hour a day doing nothing but staring off and drifting. I try not to force myself to think of anything in particular, I just let it go. But generally I always end up thinking of the future, things I want to do, where I want to be, how I want to be, but I like that. I used to be the type that didn't think and just acted. At least now because I allow myself to think more I finally have some direction.

    So, I guess what I'm saying is thinking is like...it's like totally the kewlest, like fur shur.
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  • Profile picture of the author don21stc
    Why would you want to put a load of effort into stopping yourself thinking?
    Maybe you don't like your thoughts?
    If you don't, you can always think about something else or get drunk.
    Anyway, I often can't even work out if I'm thinking or just talking to myself silently.
    Nor do I know if being confused about whether I'm thinking or not is thinking or just some realm of the mind called 'being confused'!
    And why did Descartes have to confuse things even further with
    'I think, therefore(???) I am' - didn't he realise we've got enough problems already?
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  • Profile picture of the author Allicin
    I don't think you actually can stop thinking! The closest to not thinking would be relaxing... But not thinking at all is just impossible. The mind is made in such a way that makes it impossible not to think. If you stop thinking about something, something else will automatically replace it, wether you like it or not!! If thinking is a problem for you, then you're not having the right thoughts, try changing them... make them more relaxing or more dream like etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author rockstarmillionaire
    I use meditation to stop thinking. It's hard and sometimes I have to remind myself to get back to visualizing nothing or maybe I see a beach or waterfall and that helps me not to think. Just be
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  • Profile picture of the author elenana
    I used to thinking non-stop, if I woke up at night, I would start thinking for many hours till the next day. Later I went to see the psychologist, she told me that awareness was the skill to switch or stop the thinking mode. If you have high awareness, you can control your thinking mode, you don't live in past or future but live in the present!
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  • Profile picture of the author isaiahz
    Banned
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  • Profile picture of the author winsonong
    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    There are many quotes out there that involve thinking, from the ones of Law of Attraction to famous quotes like Descartes', "I think, therefore I am." This led many people to constantly think all day.

    Even when you are relaxed someplace quiet or taking a jog in the park, your mind can still be in thinking mode. So, how do you personally stop thinking?
    This is very interesting question. It's very hard and difficult to stop thinking. For me, sometime I thinking of those past unhappy stories. I knew that this is very time consuming but just cannot stop thinking.

    Recently, I apply Silva Method. It able to allow me stop thinking for at least 5 - 10 minutes with fully relaxing.
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  • Profile picture of the author George Katsoudas
    If you mean "how to stop thinking about business", then take a break and do something else that is fun but that also requires your focus. For example: Playing tennis.

    Taking a "physical" break can recharge your "mental" batteries.
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  • Profile picture of the author Greg Jacobs
    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    So, how do you personally stop thinking?
    first step is to reconize that you are not your thoughts.
    more than that just has to be acquired.
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  • Profile picture of the author jweby
    Yes, music indeed.
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  • Profile picture of the author MChriston
    How to stop thinking?

    Well if it's a problem and getting in the way (because you're talking a load of negative nonsense or are over-active with money-raising world domination plans), try this:

    1 - If you have a lot of internal chatter or self-talk you could do several things:

    a) Put your tongue into the roof of your mouth just behind your teeth, for a lot of people this is (strangely) like an off-switch!

    b) Imagine a volume dial in front of you. Set the dial to the same volume to what you think your internal chatter is at. Let's say, "7". Then turn it down a notch to "6", then turn it back up to "7"... then down again... then when you know your volume dial is working turn it all the way down

    c) Squash the voice! You know when you watch a cartoon and the bad-guy gets shrunk... his voice becomes squeeky. Okay, imagine doing that to your internal voice ...and it will end up sounding like Mickey Mouse. This works really well with negative self-talk as it doesn't sound anywhere as bad if it's Mickey Mouse saying it! In fact, it sounds real stupid and therefore becomes a lot easier to switch off too.

    2 - Trouble sleeping because of the internal chatter? Okay, try these...

    a) A big hammer to the head... Joke!

    b) Any of the above ideas from (1)

    c) Sloooooooooooooow everything down - You know when you someone talks too slowly... it gets... verrrrrrrry.... borrrrrrrrrrrrring and zzzzzzzzzzzzzz, g'nite! Well, you can slow things down in your head and have the same effect. So that internal discussion inside your head about world-domination... Sloooooooow it down. Speak a LOT slower... and I mean real slooooooooooooooooooow. Slow down the pictures as well.

    d) Have a chill-out before bed... so stop working a good hour before you want to hit the sack and do something relaxing (I know this is kinda obvious, but it does work)

    That'll do I suppose. Enjoy!

    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author VeitSchenk
    don't worry about thinking or not thinking. Just accept thoughts as they are.

    Here's the key: (scientifically proven): if you are accepting of your thoughts (even the unpleasent ones) then you tend to be happier, more productive and more successful.

    Those people who tend to suppress negative thoughts tend to be unhappier, less successful, less productive. They have proven using functional MRI that when you have a tendency to suppress certain thoughts (some people do this by doing only "positive thinking"), then you shut down entire parts of your brain which are no longer available to you in everyday 'thinking'.

    btw, the point of meditation is NOT to clear your head, but simply (ok, ok, overgeneralizing thousands of years of meditation here....) to increase awareness. Awareness of how things really are, awareness that there always is good and there always is bad stuff in your life. Accept, then deal with it.

    finally, meditation isn't just sitting there and focusing on your breathing ... there are tons of different types of meditation, you can do a walking meditation (focus on your feet touching the ground), sitting, lying down, focusing on breathing, on muscle relaxation, body parts, you can do this whilst driving your car -- simply go into expanded awareness (where you focus on everything in your peripheral vision instead of foveal vision) and focus on nothing but the scenery as it whizzes by.

    You cannot be in peripheral vision and think at the same time. So everytime you catch yourself looking at something, you've just had a thought. Wouldn't do this in a traffic jam when it's stop 'n go though;-)

    Veit
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  • Profile picture of the author WildwindE
    I don't know if someone said this or not, because I didn't read the whole page, but here it is in a nutshell:

    BECOME THE SPACE THE THOUGHT PASSES THROUGH. Buddhists monks describe thoughts like wisps of clouds passing through their mind.

    And if you want to tone down the thoughts big time, go out and get physical -- not exercise, but something that is work related, like mowing the lawn, working the garden. Your thoughts, when your hands are placed in the dirt, stray to the far corners of your mind and whisper among themselves, where it becomes increasingly difficult for you to even hear them.

    Laurie
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  • Profile picture of the author Hulbert
    Hi Laurie. I've never heard it in the way you've described it here in terms of being the space that thought passes through. Thank you for sharing this idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author leri
    I listen music.
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  • Profile picture of the author inetcadet
    You can not stop thinking, what you can do about that is to have such strong concentration power that unwanted thought do not come into your mind. And even if they do, they go unnoticed. Once you have concentration power, you can chose what you want to think and what not to.
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  • Profile picture of the author Annnash
    I don't think you can stop thinking. Thinking is as natural as breathing. You can only control your thoughts.
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  • Profile picture of the author lostarts
    Great thread. I noticed today, that it's not stopping the thought process which is important, but directing it. Or rather, maintaining proper attention. I believe we all know how difficult this seems to be at times.

    I developed a simple meditation method which I've been using the past couple of days. I was writing about a meditation visualization technique for my site, then another idea came to me about this particular meditation. The purpose of the meditation is to bring your entire focus onto a basic colored shape. That was the basis for it anyway, but then I realized I can use a brief phrase to bring my attention to the current moment. "Focus on the Triangle!", which basically means come back to the present moment.

    It seems to me that doing this has helped me live out my life through my actions, and not give so much attention to my own internal dialogue. It's a constant problem I face, so now more than ever I've been creating ways to guide my mind into paying attention.

    'Cause where your attention goes, your life goes.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Sweet
    Learnng to "Stop Thinking" is basically a form of meditation. However learning to meditate can take years to achieve effectively.

    However there is a "fast track" to meditate and this can be achieved using technology in the form of a bio-feedback machine.

    I have one.

    My machine is in the form of a small pyramid and contains some advanced technology. It has a headband which has several electrodes measuring minuscule electrical frequencies from the brain, and a second one to 'earth' you. These are connected to the biofeedback machine which measure the Alpha and Theta brain waves which you brain emits.

    When you relax, the alpha waves are emitted from your brain and are visible on the machine as well as an audible sound.

    When you relax even more, the theta waves click in and you are even more relaxed. Again this is measured on the machine and a different sound is heard. It is a bit like a cricket.

    Now the clever part about this is that you 'know' when you are meditating, however often when you 'know' you brain waves immediately jump out of alpha and theta and you are thinking again!

    With practice, you will not need the machine to 'know' when you are meditating, and at the same time not 'thinking'

    This is my way and it has helped me for years.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Baker
    I never stop thinking, however I do choose what I think about!

    Garbage in, garbage out.
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  • Profile picture of the author siliwangitravel
    maybe some sleep it would stop think for a while
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  • Profile picture of the author SEOExpert104
    Music stops me from thinking, and makes me think better, I sometimes work with music.
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  • Profile picture of the author Red Munkey
    A tip I learned from Jo Dunning on how to stop your thoughts is by imagining there is string pulling your eyebrows apart. Silly yes, but for some reason it works. Alternately, you may imagine that you are looking up at the interior of your skull. You do NOT have to close your eyes nor literally roll them into the back of your head for this to work. Doing this puts your brain in theta and will greatly reduces or even stops your thinking.
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  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    Start Feeling
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  • Profile picture of the author Farai
    Honestly the brain doesn't stop thinking. What you can do is to focus on other things you will be doing at that particular time and forget about a problem you might have been thinking about. Try to relax and have a quiet time with God. I have found this relaxing and when i finish my quiet time i will be refreshed and eager to go.

    The brain does not stop working per se, it would be like shutting down the whole human system..and we all know what happens once the human system is down......its all about focusing and relaxing and spending quality time with God.......
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  • Profile picture of the author np90
    I got a good audiobook from iTunes, it's not a hypnosis session - just more like a guided 20 minute relaxation that I use for powernaps. Stops me from thinking and knocks me out almost every single time.

    Won't post it because I don't want to seem like I'm marketing it, but any kind of guided relaxation can really help because it lowers your levels of awareness progressively.

    Sometimes it can be a mistake to try and flip a switch and go immediately from our everyday state of a million-thoughts-a-second, to a complete blank. By going through the different stages I find that I reach a much deeper state of relaxation and end up thinking about nothing.

    anyways, that's me...

    All the best and God Bless,
    np90
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  • Profile picture of the author bioshift
    I meditate on thoughts being a bubble in the sea. it comes, you acknowledge it, and it floats away, doesn't linger. You can also try using powerful mantra like Sat-inhale (truth) Nam-exhale (identity). So you repeat that as you breathe. You will notice thoughts come in and you go back to the mantra. Takes mucho practice, but it will have powerful effects.

    I read a great analogy on mantra... they are like one big powerful wave that smoothes out the sea of small waves (random thought) It will cleanse your dome!

    Cheers!
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    So, how do you personally stop thinking?
    Do other stuff.

    Watching movies, play games, go shopping, etc...
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  • Profile picture of the author techinik
    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    There are many quotes out there that involve thinking, from the ones of Law of Attraction to famous quotes like Descartes', "I think, therefore I am." This led many people to constantly think all day.

    Even when you are relaxed someplace quiet or taking a jog in the park, your mind can still be in thinking mode. So, how do you personally stop thinking?
    You can't stop thinking but you can stop thinking negatively. So the only choice is between negative or positive thinking. No complex theories its just simple truth.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sebastian Oudot
    Practice some conscious breathing.

    Breathing is the most vital action for human body and probably the less worked.
    Try to be at least 15 minutes everyday alone and practice breathing.
    Focus all your attention on your breath. Imagine the air go inside your body and fill in your lungs. Same when you expire imagine that you can follow the air get out of your body.

    If you do this exercise, you will not stop thinking but by focusing your attention to only one thought you will stop to over thinking about a million things.
    There is a really good benefit as well practising this because you will better ventilate your lungs and with the time you will feel better with a more deep and relax breath.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tonio Smith
    Why stop thinking? Some out there belive that how we think seperates us from the wolfs.
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  • Profile picture of the author MatthewChiapetta
    i just generally eat proper nutrients... i find that i am fully functional when i need to be, and when im resting i am resting, not thinking about stuff.

    I usually just play games, and listen to classical music. I find sometimes that repeating mantras is a good way to stop the mind when you dont need to hear it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sebastian Oudot
    I do however that deep breathing and concentrating on my breathing helps me drop off eventually
    I know what you mean. Practicing conscious breath is far more difficult since I begin seriously internet marketing. If I don't tell to myself to try not to think about millions of ideas I have, I could think it for all night.
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  • Profile picture of the author darthdeus
    There are many excercises that can help you clean your mind and their effect is almost magical

    Here is one really simple that works for me in a matter of seconds. Just sit in a comfortable position.

    Imagine your thoughts are like words appearing on a blackboard. They are floating from one side to the other. Suddenly they start to slowly disappear into nothing. Then the blackboard also disappears and everything that is left is nothingness

    However these excercises require a bit of practice to be effective. Hypnotic tapes are also very helpful.
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  • Profile picture of the author Courage
    Here is quick and easy technique that will help to stop (most) of your thoughts
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  • Profile picture of the author cpa-money
    do medidations. it always works for me!
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  • Profile picture of the author André Silverspoon
    when you are asleep or unconscious you stop thinking, but if you are up and about the mind don't stop working...that's how we are made
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  • Profile picture of the author betsyanne
    I agree with many of these posters, that quieting your mind using meditation and turning inward is very healthy.

    Sometimes we must stop our "monkey mind" and tune into our natural rest processes. That is where mediation, or Yoga practice, can help so much.

    It takes time to train your mind and body. If you are not used to meditating or have not done it before, it can help to have a teacher or guru to help you. He or she can teach you how to focus, use a special mantra word, and train your mind to shut off useless and counter-productive thoughts.

    Good luck to you in your journey and I hope you find a system that works for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh MacDonald
    Peanut butter on dinosaurs head! That is more random.

    Anyways, like stated above, can't really turn off your brain. Why would you want to? If your looking to get your mind off SEO/Marketing/Business matters than go do a hobby. Sometimes could be sports or video games, you could go to the beach, etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Easypick
    Your mind is always working even when you are not...
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  • Profile picture of the author Osahon Urubusi
    Don't really think you can actually stop thinking unless you're asleep. You can slow down the process through meditation and prayer, but stopping it altogether while fully conscious? Doesn't consciousness itslef preclude the idea that you're not thinking?
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  • Profile picture of the author styla786
    If you feel like you don't know how to stop thinking, you need to learn what it's like to "let go" of your thoughts, so that it's something you can do deliberately. Imagine that thinking is like breathing; you do it all the time, without even realizing it. But if you need to, you can hold your breath. Meditating will help you learn how to release your thoughts.
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  • Profile picture of the author donmccobb
    Why do you really want to stop thinking? This business requires constant thinking about ways to make your site better, how to market better, etc. So get with it and think how you can do better.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnBergmanReviews
    Your mind is always thinking and giving you self talk. The idea is not to stop thinking, but rather to direct your thoughts in a positive way. Another important thing to learn is meditation. Learn how to meditate for a few minutes each day to quiet your mind. Even then your mind will wonder, but you will get better with practice.
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  • Profile picture of the author Thinker1
    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    There are many quotes out there that involve thinking, from the ones of Law of Attraction to famous quotes like Descartes', "I think, therefore I am." This led many people to constantly think all day.

    Even when you are relaxed someplace quiet or taking a jog in the park, your mind can still be in thinking mode. So, how do you personally stop thinking?
    That's such a great question. Basically there are two important things to consider. 1. know that permanently not thinking is not possible but temporarily slowing down or stopping the thinking process is possible. You do this by meditating or simply focusing on your breath. When your mind drifts off you keep breathing again.
    2. the most important thing is to actually to stir your mind to focus on empowering thoughts. That's is only possible by actually suggesting those thoughts to your subconscious mind. You can record your positive thoughts or goal then listen to it. It will also help you achieve your goal that much sooner.
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  • Profile picture of the author maidmarion
    Type in 'maharaji prem rawat' into google. This man teaches & shows something called 'knowledge' which is a type of meditation which when you focus on these techniques it quietens the mind completely and you focus on a bliss instead. Of course your mind is still there, and you can start thinking if you want to, but how nice it is to not have to focus on your thinking!

    Meditation is the key! I have had this experience for over 20 years, and it works to calm the mind, give peace and show us why we came!
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    • Profile picture of the author Glenny61
      It can most definitely be done. And rather easily.

      Check out the work of Frank Kinslow the developer of the quantum entrainment method.

      Glenn
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  • Profile picture of the author franamico
    Originally Posted by Hulbert View Post

    There are many quotes out there that involve thinking, from the ones of Law of Attraction to famous quotes like Descartes', "I think, therefore I am." This led many people to constantly think all day.

    Even when you are relaxed someplace quiet or taking a jog in the park, your mind can still be in thinking mode. So, how do you personally stop thinking?
    Hey man, I know what you mean...
    Have you tried guided meditations?
    Wayne Dyer Published a meditation called Japa. The book and the CD are just a few bucks but it really helped me to create space between my thoughts...
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  • Profile picture of the author Sushie93
    Very hard for me to stop thinking even when i'm trying to sleep i think about my "business".
    The only way i find to stop my mind is to concentrate on my breathing, it also help to fall asleep faster.
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  • Profile picture of the author surenpp
    Read J.Krishnamurthy

    dada Gavand

    Osho

    Sri sri Ravishankar

    and many other enlightened masters
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  • Profile picture of the author Louie Bennett
    I have read a few book over the years, what I have found out are a few things, the first is you have to realise that you are not your thoughts, we associate our self with them and follow the emotional journeyemotions are waves that come and go, you have to dissociate your self and become the observer of them,a good book for this is Byron Katie THE WORK, which has a few questions that will force to you question your thought, and gain control of them,excellent reading you can also check her out on You tube, because all the thing that you use to believe are not true, at the moment I am reading Dr J Demartine The breakthrough Experience, this book also is also good.

    Hope this helps, your view on these books would be appreciated

    Happy cleansing

    Louie
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  • Profile picture of the author michaelbnielsen
    You cannot stop thinking, but you can direct your focus....

    Mastering your mind and it focus is the ultimate success in life

    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author Ilya Feynberg
    You spend less time thinking of the pointless things when you spend more time actually doing the things that matter.
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  • Profile picture of the author PascalSundhar
    Due to meditation you can focus on particular things.
    But you can't stop thinking?
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  • Profile picture of the author tomjunction
    To stop thinking i use mediation. Like taking deep breaths and all. Mediation is very easy and it doesn't require much of the hard work and is very useful when i want to divert my thinking and want to take my mind off from something and even when i want to concentrate on something.
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    • Profile picture of the author DamianK
      If you get a good punch in the face you stop thinking for a second. There's actually a fantastic scene in "I Heart Huckabees" relative to this topic. One of the main characters is sitting there repeatedly smashing himself in the face with a big red ball. His reasoning is how amazing it is that every time he hits himself it's as though he ceases to acknowledge his own existence for a fraction of a second after the hit. It's hilarious and true.
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  • Profile picture of the author Zentech
    Try some meditation, and/or read some Zen and Eastern philosophy. Stopping the mind-chatter that prevents us from being fully "in the present moment" is one of the big themes of that stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ulumma
    Here is a little exercise that helps me to stop thinking. It is called singing the HU. You can do this exercise anywhere quietly in a crowd or voice it if alone. Basically I find a quiet place in the morning or in the evening (best times for me). I sit with my back straight or lie down; close my eyes and focus on my third eye, the place between the two eyebrows. Then I softly think of a nice experience and put my consciousness on that happy state and gently sing HUuuuuuuuu (pronounced Hugh). I sing it repeatedly with my eyes gently closed. If a light appears I surrender to the light and continue to empty all my worries into the ethers. I do this for about 10 to 20 minutes at each sitting. Then I go about my daily business or go to sleep if evening time.
    This way one surrenders the subjects of your thinking into the ethers and watch solutions unfold. Sometimes when I do this exercise in the evening, I would have a dream that would give me a solution to that which I was thinking about and worrying myself to death.
    Try it, don't take my word for it. I hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author Victoria Kelley
    Meditation helps to clear your mind and slow your thoughts to the point where you are not constantly thinking. Silence is the best teacher to encourage the most positive and uplifting thoughts one can have.

    Here is a simple example of how to close off your thoughts for a period of time.
    Sit in a park, stream, beach or quite place and close your eyes. Stretch out your ears to hear the sounds around you and in the far off distance. What can you hear? See with your ears.
    Do you hear the bird singing in the tree 300 feet away? If so, focus on it's song. Feel the sound of the bird singing, relax and absorb it inside of you. Slow down your breathing in and out of your mouth. Inhale long and slow right down into your mid-section. Exhale slowly until there is no more air in your lungs. Repeat this at least 10 times.
    This is just one way that may help you to close off your over active mind. This eventually may help you to sleep better too. Do this simple activity everyday and give yourself at least 10 mins to try this exercise.

    Cheers
    Victoria
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  • Profile picture of the author stephan231
    I always advice my friends whenever they are in bad mood or stressed the best remedy is to STOP THINKING at all like you just kill your brain. Also being successful in what you are doing require the same, how you do it is all about training your mind that and for sure it is totally achievable.
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  • Profile picture of the author sarabill2141
    if you convince yourself that what is going to take place will indeed then you can stop thinking at that point!
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelF
    Attention meditation is exactly what your looking for. Attention Revolution by Alan Wallace is excellent.
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  • Profile picture of the author mobiusman
    There is thinking and there is observation with thought. So, it sort of depends what it is you're trying to "turn off".

    I found that circular thinking is wasteful in the energy department. It happens when you go around and around the same issue for an extended period of time. I'm guessing that it is this that you'd like to "turn off".

    This can be accomplished quickly with observation. But I'm not talking about the old meditation (TM) technique here. No way.

    No, what I'm talking about is observation of something real that comes from within you and emits raw intelligence.

    I've been at this a long time and I don't want to write a book on it right here but you may have noticed that you can "see" through your sense of touch right? If you have a small pebble in your shoe for example you could describe to me it's size, shape, and position.

    Now you've probably heard of the "gut drive". It's that which causes things like gut feelings and hunches. Well it turns out that there is a sound scientific reason for that.
    You have another brain and it's located in the sheaths of tissue that line the esophagus, stomach, intestine, and colon. Known as the "enteric" nervous system it can and does work independently of the head brain.

    So, to use this brain for observation what you do is just swallow hard and follow it down to the area just below the rib cage (solar plexus) and see or observe what you might perceive to be there.

    Now it might be a tough exercise for most to do it just like that. That's the reason I built an on-line machine to assist you in performing this any time you want to turn off that annoying thinking in the head brain. Great for making important decisions or quickly resolving questions about what your true passion in life might be.

    Hope that helps.

    More Power to you my friend.
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    Mobiusman talks about the Head Brain/Gut Brain system. Did you know you have two different brains?
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  • Profile picture of the author PeterDunin
    just let me think about it for a while
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  • Profile picture of the author Sahak77
    The Key to Happiness is to be in the Present Moment and enjoy every second of it. I started meditating about a year ago, and I am still not able to do it every day, but it is very powerful. A great way that I learned from T. Harv Eker, the author of "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind", is to say "Thank You for Sharing" to your mind every time it brings up thoughts. I know it sounds silly, but it quiets my mind, because I accept what my mind is saying and say "Thank you for Sharing". I attended Harv's seminar Millionaire Mind Intensive two weeks ago. It was three days, 40 hours long, and it changes your perspective of life and money completely. I was a premium member, so I received 12 free tickets and I have it in my E-book. Good Luck quieting your mind ; )
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  • Profile picture of the author Dave Matthews
    Why would you want to? To stop thinking means you're dead....!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    patience, sleep, exercise....
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  • Profile picture of the author maidmarion
    I learned this meditation called 'knowledge' many years ago. It really works. You learn techniques of meditating, and you practice. It really clears the mind and takes you to a fantastic place! The mind never really goes away, but you are given something else to concentrate on, something more powerful and beautiful. You can even check every now and then, if your mind is still there, 'hello in there', and sure enough its still there!

    But you don't have to concentrate on it, there is peace from another source! Below is website if you are interested.

    Words of Peace - Prem Rawat - Podcasts
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