Imagine a cow named Daisy. She eats grass, swallows it, regurgitates it, and swallows it again. Apparently, she’ll do it about fifty times over eight hours in a day. It’s necessary for her digestive health and milk production.
I know what you’re thinking: What does rumination have to do with you and me?
* How do you and I ruminate? *
One online dictionary defines rumination as “repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings and distress and their causes and consequences.”
Based on this definition, rumination is an unhealthy practice for us. It involves replaying negative events and hurtful comments from the past as well as rehashing fearful thoughts about what might happen in the future.
Constant replay eventually digs ruts in our brain, and we become stuck.
We end up having internal, negative conversations about our specific concern. We bring it up repeatedly when talking with others. We think about it day and night, whenever our minds aren’t otherwise actively engaged.
We might not see what’s happening, but others will. They recognize the results of rumination because they’re hard to hide.
* Results of rumination *
Continually dwelling on negative thoughts can lead to anxiety and depression, unrealistic fears, and loss of appetite and sleep. If left unchecked, it will affect our relationships. This is particularly true when we ruminate on something hurtful that someone did or said to us.
It’s possible that the person never intended to hurt us, but we perceived their words or actions inaccurately. Rather than speaking with her to clear up a possible misunderstanding, we internalize it and begin a cycle that causes friction and division.
I’ve done this to others, and others have done the same to me. I suspect you can relate. Nothing positive comes from ruminating. So how can we stop it?
* Put a stop to it *
Mental health experts suggest journaling to process our thoughts. Put them on paper rather than rehash them in our minds. Seeing our concerns in black and white can help us put them in proper perspective.
Take walks in nature. Physical exercise benefits both body and mind and immersing ourselves in the beauty of nature can be therapeutic.
Find a diversion. When we catch ourselves rehashing those thoughts, call a friend and ask how she’s doing. Dive into a good book. Write out a Bible memory verse. Turn on praise and worship music and sing along. Email a greeting card to someone needing encouragement.
Retrain your brain. We can dig new ruts in our brain by changing the way we think. When those negative thoughts start to replay, choose to mediate on God’s thoughts instead.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Thankfully, we don’t have to try to do this in our own strength. God’s Holy Spirit indwells us, and He empowers us to do what’s right.
Message Thread
« Back to index