After stopping the internal strife, my life went bankrupt

Have you ever had such an experience? Although I haven't done anything, I feel exhausted; My mind is like a perpetual motion machine, constantly struggling with whether it's appropriate for me to say this or not, and whether he hates me; Before going to bed, replaying the awkward moments of the day in my mind like playing a movie... This continuous self consumption is a specialized term in psychology - mental internal friction.

1. Why do we fall into a vicious cycle of internal friction?

1. Excessive self-monitoring.

There seems to be a strict supervisor living in the brain, constantly judging our every move. This excessive self-examination consumes a lot of psychological energy, just like the programs running in the background of a mobile phone, which are invisible but secretly consume power.

2. Catastrophic Imagination

magnifies small things infinitely into disasters, such as imagining an ordinary report as "if you mess it up, you will be fired". This thinking pattern can keep the amygdala in a state of constant alertness, triggering unnecessary anxiety reactions.

3. Being plagued by perfectionism

always feels like they haven't done well enough, repeatedly revising plans but hesitating to submit them. In fact, completion is more important than perfection, and excessive pursuit of perfection can hinder action.

2. How internal friction steals our energy

1. Cognitive resources are occupied

When we repeatedly struggle, the prefrontal cortex is like an occupied CPU, unable to effectively process other tasks. That's why even simple tasks are difficult to complete when internal friction is severe.

2. Emotional Energy Overdraft

Continuous psychological pulling can lead to an increase in cortisol levels, a stress hormone that can make people feel tired, irritable, and even affect sleep quality if left elevated for a long time.

3. Increased opportunity cost

Spending time on self doubt means missing the opportunity to take action Good timing. Many opportunities often pass in a flash, and overthinking can become a stumbling block.

Three or Five Methods to Help You Break Out of the Trap of Internal Friction

1. Set a "Worry Time"

Set a fixed 15 minute time every day to specifically deal with anxiety issues, and tell yourself to "think about it when it's time to worry" if you have worrying thoughts at other times. This method can effectively interrupt endless rumination.

2. Practice the "Five Minute Rule"

For things that are indecisive about whether or not to do, do them for five minutes first before deciding whether or not to continue. This strategy can bypass psychological resistance and often get into a state as soon as you do it.

3. Cultivate an Observer Perspective

When caught up in self-criticism, try asking yourself in the third person: "How would I comfort my friend if he encountered this situation?" This psychological distance can weaken the intensity of emotions.

4. Establish an action list

Transform "should or should not be done" into "how to do it" and replace abstract concerns with specific action steps. For example, breaking down "Can I do this project well" into "What are the three specific tasks that need to be completed today.

5. Accept imperfections

Set yourself a reasonable margin for error, understanding that actions worth 60 points are better than fantasies worth 100 points. Remember: completion is more important than perfection, iteration is more realistic than one step at a time. When you start reducing internal friction, you will find that the energy originally used for indecision has been transformed into action force. The questions that once kept you up at night have naturally found answers through action. Stop competing with yourself and focus your energy on what truly matters, this is the highest level of self-discipline.