Overthinking Is Not Your Friend

Don’t get too deep, it leads to over thinking, and over thinking leads to problems that don’t even exist in the first place. - Jayson Engay

Has someone ever said something to you, and you respond back but it doesn’t end there? Your mind begins to go a mile a minute. You analyze the tone, the motives, the reason. The first initial thought is long gone because you are now on thought number 99. You are running and there is no race. You, my dear, are overthinking. Overthinking can sometimes be enemy number one to our daily lives. 

A lot of times you don’t even realize you are doing it because it comes naturally. I am guilty of overthinking. Those close to me know this well. There are many times I have to talk myself down off the stress boat because I have raised my levels for no reason. Let me give an example. A friend wants to meet but she doesn’t say why. I assume it’s to hang out. But then after a while my head starts to think. What if it’s because she has a bone to pick with me? Did I mess up? What have I done in the past few weeks? She must absolutely hate my guts! And cue the fear and stress and tears. Only for it to turn out that she missed me and wanted to catch up. 

There are many different scenarios where overthinking can occur. You can over think about the past like an event that happened. You can overthink about the future like something that will happen. You can overthink about a person, place or thing. You can even overthink about past mistakes, problems or issues. However, all of this thinking does not involve any action. Except in your brain cells.

The analyzing has begun to take a life of its own.

You are no longer in charge. It begins to have a negative effect on you. It starts to raise your stress levels and anxiety. It wastes your time and energy and is more harmful than helpful. It creates scenarios and moments that are not even real. It can also prevent you from making decisions.

 I would think I was just being cautious thinking it completely through. Being cautious doesn’t require checking if your front door is locked 10 times over. You check it once and you’re good. No matter what happens, the first thought is enough.  Once you find yourself considering a fifth option you have gone too far.  A good friend of mine once told me that the first thought that comes to mind is your instinct. It’s how you really feel about something. Once the second or third thoughts come through that is doubt creeping in.

This exhausting lifestyle clearly needs to be changed. It comes down to focusing your mind and calming it down. It is something that I am still working on. It can take some practice. A conscious effort is needed to be aware, stop and refocus on something else. Remember that overthinking will lead to nothing but trouble and use this as fuel. If I can do it I know you can. We have enough problems to not start causing more on our own.