Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why does knowing we overthink not help us stop? @RickHanson and I discuss why rumination becomes a self-reinforcing habit, and why insight alone rarely helps. We distinguish between rumination and reflection, and talk about how balancing acceptance and agency can help us go from one to the other. I talk about the relationship between overthinking and feelings of disappointment and failure, and Rick shares practical ways to interrupt the cycle, shift into more concrete forms of problem-solving, and finally stop ruminating.
If rumination is a persistent issue for you, check out Rick’s five-week online course focused on practical tools for letting go of these negative thought loops. Learn more at RickHanson.com/ruminating, and use coupon code BeingWell25 to receive a 25% discount.
Previous episodes on rumination and overthinking:
Breaking the Self-Awareness Trap: How to Stop Overthinking: youtu.be/ksKIJu7kcYw
Rumination: How to Disrupt Obsessive Thoughts: youtube.com/watch?v=U2tnf8q7GMk
Key Topics:
0:00 Intro: what is rumination
5:35 Why we ruminate
21:06 Why rumination doesn't help us
25:24 Moving from rumination to reflection
29:56 [Sponsor] Shopify
31:35 Rumination as a habit
38:40 Interrupting the rumination habit
46:44 Radical helplessness and radical resourcefulness
53:43 More ways to move from abstract to concrete thinking
1:07:23 The role of mindfulness
1:13:32 Recap
Sponsors:
Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beingwell.
I'm not a clinician, and what I say on this channel should not be taken as medical advice.
Subscribe to Being Well on:
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/being-well-with-dr-rick-hanson/id1120885936
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5d87ZU1XY0fpdYNSEwXLVQ
Who Am I: I'm Forrest, the co-author of Resilient (amzn.to/3iXLerD) and host of the Being Well Podcast (apple.co/38ufGG0). I'm making videos focused on simplifying psychology, mental health, and personal growth.
Subscribe to Rick on YouTube: youtube.com/@RickHanson?sub_confirmation=1
Get Rick's Free Newsletters: rickhanson.com/writings/newsletters-from-dr-rick-hanson
Follow Rick Here:
🌍 rickhanson.com
📸 instagram.com/rickhansonphd
You can follow me here:
🎤 apple.co/38ufGG0
🌍 forresthanson.com
📸 instagram.com/f.hanson
Why does knowing we overthink not help us stop? @RickHanson and I discuss why rumination becomes a self-reinforcing habit, and why insight alone rarely helps. We distinguish between rumination and reflection, and talk about how balancing acceptance and agency can help us go from one to the other. I talk about the relationship between overthinking and feelings of disappointment and failure, and Rick shares practical ways to interrupt the cycle, shift into more concrete forms of problem-solving, and finally stop ruminating.
If rumination is a persistent issue for you, check out Rick’s five-week online course focused on practical tools for letting go of these negative thought loops. Learn more at RickHanson.com/ruminating, and use coupon code BeingWell25 to receive a 25% discount.
Previous episodes on rumination and overthinking:
Breaking the Self-Awareness Trap: How to Stop Overthinking: youtu.be/ksKIJu7kcYw
Rumination: How to Disrupt Obsessive Thoughts: youtube.com/watch?v=U2tnf8q7GMk
Key Topics:
0:00 Intro: what is rumination
5:35 Why we ruminate
21:06 Why rumination doesn't help us
25:24 Moving from rumination to reflection
29:56 [Sponsor] Shopify
31:35 Rumination as a habit
38:40 Interrupting the rumination habit
46:44 Radical helplessness and radical resourcefulness
53:43 More ways to move from abstract to concrete thinking
1:07:23 The role of mindfulness
1:13:32 Recap
Sponsors:
Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beingwell.
I'm not a clinician, and what I say on this channel should not be taken as medical advice.
Subscribe to Being Well on:
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/being-well-with-dr-rick-hanson/id1120885936
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5d87ZU1XY0fpdYNSEwXLVQ
Who Am I: I'm Forrest, the co-author of Resilient (amzn.to/3iXLerD) and host of the Being Well Podcast (apple.co/38ufGG0). I'm making videos focused on simplifying psychology, mental health, and personal growth.
Subscribe to Rick on YouTube: youtube.com/@RickHanson?sub_confirmation=1
Get Rick's Free Newsletters: rickhanson.com/writings/newsletters-from-dr-rick-hanson
Follow Rick Here:
🌍 rickhanson.com
📸 instagram.com/rickhansonphd
You can follow me here:
🎤 apple.co/38ufGG0
🌍 forresthanson.com
📸 instagram.com/f.hanson
