Mind over Matter

I recently read that if you're having problems with re-occurring, shall we say, obsessive thoughts that if you repeat to yourself factual statements, you can start to break the cycle, or, at the very least, give yourself a respite. I have to say, I was impressed. It can just be very simple statements like "It's snowing outside", or "My feet are cold", etc. It seemed to help using the things in my immediate space to take the place of those re-occurring things.