I wish I had a trade!—It would animate my arms and tranquilize my brain.

Senancour.

[1]A good many writers on self-control and kindred subjects insist that we shall conscientiously and consciously govern our mental lives.

A great many people believe that the mind will become less effective, that life will become dull and purposeless, unless they are constantly thinking and planning and arranging their affairs. I believe that the mind may easily and wisely be free from conscious thought a good deal of the time,[2] and that the greatest progress and development in mind often comes when the thinker is virtually at rest, when his mind is to all intents and purposes blank. [3] The busy,‌ unconscious mind does its best work in the serenity of an atmosphere which does not interfere and confuse.

1 It is true that the greatest conceptions do not come to the untrained and undisciplined mind.2 There is a technical training for the mind which is, of course, necessary for special accomplishments, but this is quite another matter.3 Even this kind of thought must not obtrude too much, lest we become conscious of our mental processes and so end in confusion. [4]

[5] Work should, of course, find its fullest justification as an expression of faith. If we have ever so dim a vision of a greater significance in life, of its close relationship to infinite things, we become thereby conscious of the need of service, of the need of work. It is the‌ easy, natural expression of our faith, the inevitable result of a spiritual contact with the great working forces of the world. It is work above all else that saves us from the disasters of conflicting thought.

[6] But overthinking had its benefits. He had just been graduated from college and his head was full of confused ideas and emotions. [7] A great deal of the fatigue and unhappiness of the world is due to the fact‌ that we do not go deep enough in our justification for work or play, or for any experience, happy or sad. The symptoms he complained of were sleeplessness and worry, together with the inevitable indigestion and headache. [8]. I could find no evidence of physical disease.[9] I did not say, “There is nothing the matter with you”; for the man was sick. I told him that he was tired, that he had‌ thought too much, that he was too much concerned about himself, and that as a result of all this his bodily functions were temporarily upset. [10] He didn’t believe me and accused me of slander. 1 I said to this young man, “In spite of your discomforts, in spite of your depression and concern in regard to yourself, you will get well if you will stop thinking about the matter altogether.” 2 That helped a little, but not nearly enough, because when a man has overworked, when he has begun to worry, and when his various bodily functions show results of worry, no reasoning, no explanations, can wholly relieve him. 3 I continued, “You must be first convinced that it is best for you to stop thinking, that no harm or violence‌ can result, and then you must be helped in this direction by going to work with your hands—that will be life and progress, it will lead you to health.” 4 I explained to him that this mistaken obligation was the common reason for worry, and that in this case, at least, it was quite unnecessary and even harmful for him to go on thinking about himself.[11] 

Hall, H. (2022). The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Untroubled Mind, by Herbert J. Hall.