Little boy’s simple solution to ‘overthinking’ is better than any grounding technique we know

The endless chatter of the mind is something most of us grapple with. While it's a pressing problem among adults, one little boy couldn't have simplified the concept with his surprising wisdom. Miles, one of the students featured in a TikTok video by Recess Therapy (@recesstherapy), has an important message for "overthinkers", and even pop-star Rihanna couldn't help but nod in agreement.

At the beginning of the video clip, Rihanna says, "You know what, Miles, I don't always feel confident. What's your secret when you're not feeling confident?" To this, Miles responded, "Being kind and brave." When the host asks Miles if he ever tells himself something in his head to feel braver, the little boy replies that he doesn’t—he just thinks all the time. His honest answer makes Rihanna chuckle, as she relates instantly, admitting that she, too, thinks all the time. She then asks, "How could we not think all the time?" Miles simply suggested, "Just look at everything around you and then you're actually barely thinking cause you're looking."

Rihanna and the host laughed at Miles’ candid response before the host moved on to ask him another big question about the best way to make a new friend. Miles replies that he just wanders around until someone wants to play with him. Miles' two cents on topics that often consume adults earned him praise online. One TikTok user, @loz_elise, commented, “‘Look around, then you’re not thinking’ that’s a well-known grounding technique for calming panic attacks! Naming things you can see, hear, touch, feel, etc.”

Another person, @kaitlinsillyrabbit, wrote, “Miles teaching us about mindfulness. He's more emotionally intelligent than most adults.” A YouTube user, @marcellacarz, also stated, “Miles said something that makes a lot of sense. As a psychologist, one of the things we learn to teach patients on how to stop thinking too much is looking at their surroundings, observing the details of life, and being present in the present.” Similarly, @wildwitchwest chimed in and said, “Miles is an absolute legend. Shout-out to his parents, for real. I always love and admire when parents foster their kids' interests and personalities and just let them exist fully as themselves. Should be the bare minimum for parenting.”

At one point in the video, Rihanna admits that she’s a fan of Miles. When she asked him which of her songs was his favorite, he said it's Shine Bright Like a Diamond, bringing a huge smile to Rihanna’s face. The little boy has also spoken to other popular stars like Olivia Rodrigo and Dua Lipa, as reported by Billboard. Meanwhile, another Recess Therapy video that captured hearts online featured a young girl sharing her thoughts on the importance of taking time for yourself and not holding in emotions. If you found Miles's thoughts insightful, you wouldn't be disappointed by what his playmate has to say about self-care and self-compassion. 

You can follow @recesstherapy on TikTok for more such adorable videos.