Podcast Transcript: Overcoming Overthinking with Bestselling Author Jon Acuff

Hosted by Amy Morin, LCSW, The Verywell Mind Podcast showcases experts, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspiring individuals who share their strategies for attaining optimal mental health and well-being.

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Topic: Managing Overthinking with Jon Acuff

Guest: Jon Acuff, Author and Motivational Speaker

Episode Highlights:

1. Introducing Jon Acuff:
   • Meet Jon Acuff, author of seven books, including his recent release "Soundtracks."
   • Acuff's flair for motivational speaking and ability to combine humor with practical insights into overcoming obstacles resonate with audiences.
2. Jon Acuff's Mental Strength Journey:
   • Acuff's latest book, "Soundtracks," delves into the topic of overthinking and provides actionable strategies to address it.
   • He shares personal anecdotes and candidly discusses seeking therapy to reframe negative thought patterns.
3. Podcast Insights:
   • Distinguishing between beneficial preparation and excessive overthinking.
   • Acuff's personal struggles with overthinking, such as indecisiveness when choosing a restaurant.
   • How overthinking manifests in business contexts.
   • Simple exercises for identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns.
   • The correlation between loneliness and overthinking, particularly during the pandemic.
   • Creating a personal soundtrack to challenge feelings of shame.
   • Adopting positive soundtracks from others, like one Acuff borrowed from Kanye West.
   • Three key questions to evaluate your soundtracks.
   • Understanding the brain's tendency to deceive and manipulate.
   • The concept of an internal "pocket jury" that seeks evidence supporting negative beliefs.
   • Weighing the pros and cons of self-labeling versus external labeling.
   • Effective techniques for minimizing the influence of negative soundtracks.
   • Tracking progress without expecting immediate results.
4. Mental Health and Mental Strength Takeaways:
   • Thoughts have a profound impact on emotions and behaviors.
   • Overthinking can be detrimental, preventing individuals from living fulfilling lives by dwelling on the past or overanalyzing future decisions.
   • Learning to respond constructively to negative thoughts and challenging unhelpful beliefs can lead to positive change.
   • Acuff's concept of soundtracks offers a tangible approach to managing thoughts, akin to mantras or catchphrases that promote a healthier mindset.
5. Notable Quotes from Jon Acuff:
   • "Approach change as a tourist, because we're all tourists to 2021."
   • "What if, when you receive feedback, it's an invitation to grow, not an attack on who you are?"
   • "Thoughts always turn into actions. Actions turn into results."
   • "We want silver bullets a lot of times in life where I think the healing and the growth is really in the process."
   • "I'm either going to succeed at it or I'm going to get a story."
6. Podcast Details:
   • The Verywell Mind Podcast is accessible on various streaming platforms.
   • Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts supports the show and encourages others to prioritize their mental health.