There’s an advantage to conceiving thinking as an action. In some ways, then, it can be managed. You can schedule it. You can recognize when you’re doing too much of it. You can understand its limitations: that thinking alone can’t solve a problem and that other tools or methods are needed. You can determine whether thinking leads to helpful outcomes, or whether it sends you round and round a never ending path of being tormented by possibilities and unhelpful analysis. I appreciate labeling thinking as action because naming it in this way gives it a fresh meaning and new opportunities to explore what’s possible.Â
A Life of Wonder 
This also allows you to recognize that ‘thinking’ is not who you are. It allows some space between You and the stream of thoughts. You are the one that is Aware of the thinking mind. Very buddhist! And- I’ve caught myself in traps of ‘thinking’ I could solve a problem by even more thinking. Intractable problems. Problems that just needed to be released for a time, giving me space to ground and breath and allow possible solutions to find me, rather than me forcing it…
I appreciate your thoughtful reply and especially the idea of “releasing problems” to give them breathing space, allowing them, and us, to change and mature, as our awareness changes too.