Interrupt obsessive thinking by singing a jingle.
Schoolhouse Rock! is an American series of animated musical educational short films that aired on Saturday mornings from 1973 to 1985. Topics ranged from grammar, science, and math, to economics, history, and civics.
One grammar episode is titled, “Lolly Lolly Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here.” The story is about a store owner who sells adverbs. This is the refrain.
Lolly Lolly Lolly, get your adverbs here.
Lolly Lolly Lolly, got some adverbs here.
Come on down to Lolly's, get the adverbs here
You're going to need
If you write or read,
Or even think about it.
Lolly Lolly Lolly, get your adverbs here.
Got a lot of Lolly, jolly adverbs here.
Anything you need and we can make it absolutely clear...
I sing this jingle when I obsess about a situation, person, or institution; whenever I go into the future parade of imaginary horribles. For example, “I think my biggest client isn’t going to renew my contract. Then I can’t pay my bills. I’ll have to move out of my home. Where will I live? I better start looking for an efficiency apartment now.”
I break out in a chorus of Lolly Lolly Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here. It interrupts my obsessive thinking and my projecting of the worst outcomes. I laugh, which allows a space for me to make another choice. “Is this thinking helping me?” No. Never.
Decide another thought such as, “I know how to solve problems as they present themselves to me.”
Sing a jingle to interrupt obsessive thinking. Then choose another thought that brings you into the present moment. Laugh more.
"Hearty laughter is a good way to jog internally without having to go outdoors."
Norman Cousins
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