The mind can be chaotic. Most people can't shut it off. Some, including me, are "mind" types: bright people who think - a lot. My mind goes incessantly. Some mind types obsess and ruminate constantly about the same thoughts. I find this maddening. The only thing that helps me is meditation. Sitting quietly. Focusing on my breath going in and out, allowing my thoughts to fall away. Some think meditation should clear the mind of thoughts. Not true. It's a way to be present without getting lost in, or controlled by, your thoughts.
Obsessive thinking and worry can be a way to calm anxieties, to avoid difficult feelings. Overly thinking a problem to solve it creates a sense of having control over it. While problem resolution requires thinking, when it becomes obsessive it becomes a problem in itself. This is especially true for controlling people. They have difficulty feeling powerless. Overly thinking something submerges the powerlessness and gives a false sense of safety. But worry never solves problems. It only creates more anxiety. Hence, the need for meditation. It breaks this cycle and gives the mind a break. And it creates real safety, because the stillness that occurs within reminds you that everything is going to be OK.
For some, though, stillness is scary. Why? Inner quiet allows emotions to surface. With difficult emotions comes the urge to squash them by getting busy. Of course drugs and alcohol create the same effect. For some people, "busyness" is their addiction. In fact they say, "Meditation isn't for me. I can't sit still." In truth, they're avoiding the anger, sadness, fear, disappointment, etc., that surfaces when they sit still. This isn't conscious. But it's useful to become aware of. So meditating means learning to be OK with your emotions no matter what they are. It's in this acceptance that calmness truly occurs.
I've had a tough week with lots of major decisions to make. So I've been meditating a lot. Before breakfast on my terrace, and in moments when decisions need to be made. It calms me, and allows me to feel my feelings. This then tells me what to decide. Magic. If any of this describes you, try meditating. Just sit quietly, breathe in to the word "one," and out to the word "two." Over and over. If a thought pops up, acknowledge it in your mind, and then bring your focus back to the counting. It's very simple. And it's a great step toward cultivating stillness within your chaos.
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