When Thinking is Not Enough: Finding Calm in the Body

Why Thinking Alone Cannot Solve Anxiety

We often subconsciously hold the belief that if we can just think enough, analyse enough, or get to the bottom of every thought, we will finally feel calm. Many of my clients share how they spend hours inside their own minds, trying to solve anxiety by replaying scenarios, checking, planning, or rehearsing. It can feel as if thinking harder should give us control.

The difficulty is that anxiety is not simply a problem of faulty thinking. It lives in the body as much as the mind. Aaron Beck, one of the founders of cognitive behavioural therapy, highlighted how our thoughts shape our emotions and behaviours, but more recent developments in neuroscience and somatic therapy show us that this relationship is not one-directional. The body and nervous system feed into the mind just as strongly.

When we are anxious, our nervous system is on high alert. We might notice racing thoughts, but alongside that, we may also feel a quickened heart rate, tightness in the chest, or shallow breathing. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory helps us understand this: when the nervous system perceives threat, even unconsciously, it shifts us into states of mobilisation (fight or flight) or collapse (shutdown). These states colour the way we think. Trying to out-think them is like trying to swim against a strong current.

Anxiety and the Nervous System: The Window of Tolerance

This is where embodied awareness comes in. Daniel Siegel’s work on integration and the "window of tolerance" reminds us that regulation happens when we are able to notice what is happening inside and outside of us, without becoming overwhelmed. The act of walking, breathing deeply, or grounding in nature helps bring the nervous system back into a state where the mind can reflect more clearly.

When we take a walk in the woods, for example, we are not just “taking a break.” Our senses are engaged in a different way. The sound of leaves underfoot, the rhythm of our steps, the way the air feels against our skin - all of these provide sensory input that tells the nervous system it is safe enough to settle. In that state, our thoughts often shift naturally.

Carl Jung once wrote, “The body is the anchor of the mind.” What he meant is that we cannot separate the two. When the mind is trapped in loops of worry, the body can provide a way out. Not by forcing stillness, but by engaging in movement, rhythm, and contact with the natural world.

Moving Beyond Overthinking

The invitation is not to stop thinking altogether, but to notice when thinking alone is not helping. If your mind feels like a busy road, with cars rushing or colliding, sometimes the most effective step is to leave the road entirely. Take a walk, breathe, and let your body remind your mind what safety feels like.

Over time, this practice of turning toward the body builds choice. It means that when thoughts spiral, you know another path exists. You can step into movement, sensation, and breath. In doing so, you interrupt the cycle of overthinking and create space for a calmer, more integrated way of being.