How To Stop Ruminating - Dealing With The Inner Critic (Day 6)

Ever catch your mind replaying a cringe moment on loop? We take you inside that spiral and show how mindfulness breaks the pattern—not by arguing with thoughts, but by starving the loop of fuel and returning attention to the raw, steadying details of the present moment. Instead of wrestling with the inner critic, we practice kind curiosity and let the body lead the way back to clarity.

Across this focused, guided session, we map the hallmarks of rumination—repetition without resolution, shrinking perspective, and rising tension—and explain why the brain confuses looping with problem solving. Then we offer a step‑by‑step reset that anyone can try on a commute, in bed, or during a stressful workday: feel gravity where your body meets the chair or floor, listen for the rhythm of sound without chasing its source, open to the colors and light in your field of view, and notice texture and temperature on the skin. As attention reconnects with the senses, muscles soften, breath evens, and new angles on the same situation emerge.

You’ll hear how this shift reduces the power of harsh self‑talk and creates conditions for wiser choices—like making an apology, adjusting a plan, or simply letting go. The aim isn’t to silence the mind forever; it’s to relate to thoughts differently, with gentleness and precision, so they lose their grip. If you’ve felt stuck in overthinking, this practice offers a grounded path out of the loop and back into the world right in front of you.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with someone who overthinks, and leave a quick review with one insight you’re taking into your week. Your notes help others find practical mindfulness when they need it most.

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Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life.

Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work.

Each episode offers a mix of:

• Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings
• Conversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers
• Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers
• Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change

If you’re interested in:

• Mindfulness meditation for everyday life
• Trauma-sensitive and compassion-based practices
• Teaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative way
• Deepening your own practice while supporting others

…you’re in the right place.

Learn more at MindfulnessExercises.com.