Things happen at work that are upsetting. Thinking about them for the purpose of problem-solving or processing emotions makes sense. Beyond that, though, continuing to rehash negative topics, either mentally or verbally, only results in reigniting negative emotions. Although it's easier said than done, practice letting go of negative experiences and issues after you've done what you could about them.
If this sounds familiar, the reason you stay stuck in this cycle likely has to do with your mind's tendency to disguise rumination as "problem-solving." You might be under the impression that you're figuring out what went wrong or making sure you will not repeat the mistake. However, in reality, you're just reinforcing the guilt and trapping yourself even further in the same emotional cycle. Over time, this habit can end up chipping away at your confidence, relationships, and most importantly, your sense of self.
You're with a close friend, and out of nowhere, a remark your friend makes reminds you of a problem you've been dealing with that you'd rather not think about. Now you can't get it out of your mind. Although you've heard that ruminating over your worries isn't a great coping strategy, those thoughts are taking over, and you're not sure what to do. Should you share your feelings with your friend? Should you just try to distract yourself? Or both?
