When You Need to Stop Your Overthinking

We’ve all experienced it—that mental loop we can’t seem to break. Whether it’s a tough decision, a sinful thought, or just an unresolved issue, our minds sometimes get caught in cycles that drain our peace and leave us spiritually worn out.

But God has not left us without help. He offers us both spiritual tools and practical wisdom to gently interrupt those spirals and bring us back to a place of calm and trust.

1. Gaze at Christ

Start by doing something beautifully simple: fix your eyes on Jesus. Sit quietly and look at an icon or image of our Lord for three uninterrupted minutes .Let your racing thoughts fade. In that stillness, you might be surprised by how His peace begins to take over.

2. Use the Prayer Rope or Arrow Prayers

When your thoughts drift toward anxiety or temptation, pick up your prayer rope. With each bead, pray a short, focused prayer like: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” These arrow prayers are powerful. They’re like spiritual anchors that pull your heart back to center.

3. Don’t Just Think—Pray

Ask yourself honestly: Have I truly prayed about this? It’s easy to confuse overthinking with solving. But the most transformative step is always prayer. Bring your concern before God with sincerity. Ask for His wisdom, His mercy, and His will. Then let it go. Trust that He is already taking care of it—even if you can’t see it yet.

4. Move Your Body

Sometimes your mind needs your body’s help. Exercise, take a walk, clean, or do something physically active. When your body is well-used, your mind becomes more restful—and your thoughts less intrusive. A tired body makes for peaceful sleep, not overthinking.

5. Make the Decision, Then Let It Be

If you're stuck on a decision, study it, seek wise counsel, pray about it—then decide. And once you do, don’t keep circling back. Second-guessing will only feed doubt and anxiety. Trust that God can guide your steps even if the road isn’t perfectly clear.

Scripture to Reflect On

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”— Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV)

Article inspired by Fr. Boules George's Sermon on 01.22.25