There are two ways to respond to a setback:
You can engage in repetitive negative thoughts about the event — what is commonly referred to as negative rumination.
Or you can spend time figuring out how you’re going to respond to the situation.
Rumination doesn’t have a clear end; identifying how to respond does.
Rumination doesn’t bring you closer to resolution; identifying how to respond does.
Rumination doesn’t actually make you feel better (even though at times you may be convinced that it will); identifying how to respond can.
There’s very little controversy or shades of gray here, the most helpful thing to do is to learn to recognize when you’re ruminating and to anchor your attention towards answering the question: how will I respond?
Sounds good!
For me, it depends on the situation and the setback or what I'm trying to decide and how it fits in my life at the time.
@Ron (not letting me tag; not sure why) - agreed. I'm definitely more concerned with negative rumination where you endlessly loop through negative thoughts. Unless that's what you meant, but I don't think it is.