Dr. Ethan Kross

Some of us don't want to let go of that either, because at least if we're focusing on it, that's step one. But in the process of doing that. we're really harming ourselves. We're making it very challenging to think and perform.

Some of us don't want to let go of that either, because at least if we're focusing on it, that's step one. But in the process of doing that. we're really harming ourselves. We're making it very challenging to think and perform.

I mean, have you ever gotten stuck in rumination and then tried to have a conversation with someone or read a book only to find that you're physically there or you're reading the information on the page, but nothing is penetrating because your mind is somewhere else?

I mean, have you ever gotten stuck in rumination and then tried to have a conversation with someone or read a book only to find that you're physically there or you're reading the information on the page, but nothing is penetrating because your mind is somewhere else?

I mean, have you ever gotten stuck in rumination and then tried to have a conversation with someone or read a book only to find that you're physically there or you're reading the information on the page, but nothing is penetrating because your mind is somewhere else?

Exactly. So that's thinking and performance, right? Like that is a major, major obstacle to being successful in life. If your ability to really hone your attention now is lost. And the way that works, just if you want to geek out with me for 30 seconds, our ability to focus is limited. We have these limited attentional resources.

Exactly. So that's thinking and performance, right? Like that is a major, major obstacle to being successful in life. If your ability to really hone your attention now is lost. And the way that works, just if you want to geek out with me for 30 seconds, our ability to focus is limited. We have these limited attentional resources.

Exactly. So that's thinking and performance, right? Like that is a major, major obstacle to being successful in life. If your ability to really hone your attention now is lost. And the way that works, just if you want to geek out with me for 30 seconds, our ability to focus is limited. We have these limited attentional resources.

They are subserved by our prefrontal cortex, the front part of our brains. And chatter acts like a sponge that soaks up all of those attentional resources. And it leaves very little left over to do the things that we often want and need to do, whether that be just pay attention to the person we're talking to or read the chapter in the book and absorb the information.

They are subserved by our prefrontal cortex, the front part of our brains. And chatter acts like a sponge that soaks up all of those attentional resources. And it leaves very little left over to do the things that we often want and need to do, whether that be just pay attention to the person we're talking to or read the chapter in the book and absorb the information.

They are subserved by our prefrontal cortex, the front part of our brains. And chatter acts like a sponge that soaks up all of those attentional resources. And it leaves very little left over to do the things that we often want and need to do, whether that be just pay attention to the person we're talking to or read the chapter in the book and absorb the information.

That's one of the ways it really sinks us. So you asked, though, how does chatter manifest? Rumination about the past is one. Right. Another one that will be familiar to everyone in the world or most of us is worry, right? We worry about the future. We think about the what-ifs. We are what-if machines. We can easily, what if this happens? What if that happens? And before you know it, you know.

That's one of the ways it really sinks us. So you asked, though, how does chatter manifest? Rumination about the past is one. Right. Another one that will be familiar to everyone in the world or most of us is worry, right? We worry about the future. We think about the what-ifs. We are what-if machines. We can easily, what if this happens? What if that happens? And before you know it, you know.

That's one of the ways it really sinks us. So you asked, though, how does chatter manifest? Rumination about the past is one. Right. Another one that will be familiar to everyone in the world or most of us is worry, right? We worry about the future. We think about the what-ifs. We are what-if machines. We can easily, what if this happens? What if that happens? And before you know it, you know.

life is over, right? And that goes really fast. So worrying is getting stuck in these negative thought loops, typically about the present and future.

life is over, right? And that goes really fast. So worrying is getting stuck in these negative thought loops, typically about the present and future.

life is over, right? And that goes really fast. So worrying is getting stuck in these negative thought loops, typically about the present and future.

The third form that is very common to folks is this self-beratement, this kind of like, you idiot. How could you do this? You're worthless. So this kind of inner critic is another manifestation of it. It can, however, take different forms. So chatter really is this process of just looping, looping negative information over and over.

The third form that is very common to folks is this self-beratement, this kind of like, you idiot. How could you do this? You're worthless. So this kind of inner critic is another manifestation of it. It can, however, take different forms. So chatter really is this process of just looping, looping negative information over and over.

The third form that is very common to folks is this self-beratement, this kind of like, you idiot. How could you do this? You're worthless. So this kind of inner critic is another manifestation of it. It can, however, take different forms. So chatter really is this process of just looping, looping negative information over and over.