Time spent alone in thought can be positive – a rich environment for personal growth and creativity. Yet, getting “in our heads” can also be dangerous when we are negatively turned against ourselves. There is an important difference between introspection and rumination. Introspection can be a process of healthy self-reflection examination, and exploration, all of which is good for our well-being and our brain. Rumination, on the other hand, can lead us to spiral into a vicious cycle of negative thinking that holds us back and hurts us in our lives.