Well, I was watching a Simpsons episode a couple days ago that pertains to your problem. (and mine.) Lisa was trying to do the same thing - she attempted to shut off her mind, and her inner monologue was something like this, "Okay...I have to stop thinking now. I'll stop thinking...now. Hey! it worked! ...Oh, that's thinking." I used to go through that exact type of thing every night trying to go to sleep. I found if you practice meditating, the ability to shut off your mind comes a lot more easily.

Missy"practice makes perfect"Clar