Krishna's guidance · Bhagavad Gita
How to Stop Overthinking — Krishna's Answer to a Restless Mind
The short answer
Arjuna said to Krishna: 'the mind is restless, turbulent, powerful, obstinate — controlling it is as hard as holding the wind.' Krishna did not dismiss this. He agreed: 'yes, the mind is hard to restrain.' But then he gave the exact method — abhyasa (steady practice) and vairagya (gently loosening attachment). Overthinking is not defeated by force or by hating your own mind. It softens through repeated, patient practice of returning your attention, again and again, without self-judgement.
Bhagavad Gita 6.35
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्। अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥
asaṁśayaṁ mahā-bāho mano durnigrahaṁ calam, abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate
Undoubtedly the mind is restless and hard to control — but through steady practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya), it can be held.
Ise apne liye samjhein
Krishna se seedha baat karein — free
Yeh gyan general hai. Apni asli situation batayein aur Krishna se apni bhaasha mein baat karein — jitne sawaal chahein.
Krishna se baat karein →Turant · free · Hindi/English
What this means for you
The comfort here is that Krishna admits it is genuinely hard — so if your mind spins, you are not failing. The tool is repetition, not force: each time you notice the spiral and gently bring your attention back to your breath, your work, or this present moment, that is one repetition of abhyasa. You are not trying to win the fight tonight. You are training, slowly, the way a muscle strengthens.
Frequently asked
What does Krishna say about controlling the mind?
In Gita 6.35 Krishna agrees the mind is restless and hard to control, but says it can be steadied through abhyasa (consistent practice) and vairagya (reducing attachment). The mind is trained, not conquered in a single day.
How can I stop overthinking according to the Gita?
The Gita's method is gentle repetition, not suppression. Krishna teaches in 6.26 that 'wherever the restless mind wanders, bring it back and rest it on the self.' Each gentle return is the practice. Over time the spirals lose their grip.