Summary: Your overthinking brain isn’t broken, it’s just unemployed. Here’s the counterintuitive science of why the right kind of work is the fastest path to mental peace.
My brain has been running a 24/7 anxiety podcast for the last few years. You know the episodes, greatest hits like “That Thing You Said in 2021 Was Weird,” “Tomorrow’s Catastrophic Possibilities,” and the ever-popular “Analyzing This Text Message for Hidden Meanings for Two Hours Straight.” I tried everything to make it stop. Meditation apps that promised instant zen. Breathing exercises that made me dizzy. Journal prompts about gratitude. Books about mindfulness. Basically tried a lot of things…