Ever sat biting your nails for several minutes? Shaking your leg for hours or constantly grinding your teeth? Are you experiencing consistent body tension in areas of the neck, shoulders, etc.? Or do you find that you are often caught in deep stares?

If you answered yes to any one of these questions than it's very possible that you're consumed with thought. And honestly, I don't think that many people realize this, because psychologist generally equate these habits to stress and anxiety, but, if you break it down, you will find that both stress and anxiety are consumed with worry. And needless to say, worry is excessive thought.

See where I am going with this?

That's for those who had every intention to question what other psychologist say, versus what I am about to share with you.

But what many of us don't realize is that the habits described, or even those similar, are indeed habits of thought. And there are only a few things you can do to remedy these habits.

Here are 3 things to help with discontinuing habits of thought!

I. Identify the stressor!

What are you worried about? What is stressing you?

Those are questions you need to ask when trying to identify the stressor and the root cause of your worry. If you find your mind and body become tense and/or flooded with anxiety and worry around a certain individual, than it is clear that individual is a stressor.

If you find that coming home to a dirty house makes you upset, angry and anxious, than it is clear that could be a stressor. And for some individuals, it could very well be a combination of things, but either way, in order to address these habits, you have to first be able to identify the stressor!

II. Identify the perimeter of change surrounding the stressor!

It is super easy to start out super positive when on a mission of change. But honestly, trying to change a stressor you've identified, when you have not identified the perimeter that surround that stressor, could very well lead you right back to square one.

So, what do I mean by identify the perimeter?

I mean identify the boundaries and outcomes that come with addressing the stressor.

For instance if you're married and discover that your spouse is your stressor, you are facing a possible outcome of divorce. But many people don't realize that divorce is a LIFE CHANGING THING! Not only that, but moving forward with the divorce could eliminate one stressor while

creating others.

When addressing issues of this magnitude, it is imperative that you consider all possible outcomes and barriers that may keep you from fully eliminating the stressor in your life, and also potentially creating another barrier/stressor in the future.

Unfortunately the world in which we live has bred a group of individuals who like to make very quick irrational decisions, solely because we expect immediate results. Don't do this! Irrationality is the very thing that keeps our lives at standstill and hinders our growth and peace.

If you want to make a change in your life, properly consider the impact of that change. If you know there will be prolonged consequences to the change (additional stressors), than MAKE A PLAN to address all prolonged consequences so that you are prepared.

III. Decide to change or stay the same!

Based on what you determine/identify in step two, you will be taken immediately to step three. Here you either choose to change, accept and plan for prolonged consequences, or you don't.

If, in fact, you choose to change, you've essentially determined that the ends will justify the means.

On the contrary, if you decide that the end doesn't justify the means, then you've decided not to change. And that's ok, it may not be your time. But at least now you know how to address these habits that consume you...

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