Overthinking
“Overthinking leads to negative thoughts.” Don’t think too hard about that quote either!
Let’s pace ourselves. Quality information matters, in periodic doses.
When my mind goes apocalyptic, prophesying doom, I know I’m overthinking.
- When I play out ten dire scenarios and tune out my sweetheart or friends (or my small children, in the old days), I’m overthinking.
- When I compare my limits to someone else’s strengths, I’m overthinking.
- When I obsess over someone else’s “irrational beliefs,” I’m overthinking.
- When I overthink, I over plan. When I over plan, I over-stuff my life.
When I overthink, I rarely overthink peaceful, happy thoughts. I rarely overthink ways to do less.
I don’t get stuck in a cycle of endless happy predictions, except when falling in love or holding a newborn.
It’s falling off a log to fret, to go apocalyptic, and to break down in tears over spilled rice (sidebar: why is rice so difficult to sweep?).
It takes effort to choose to turn away from the cycle of negative thinking.
What Helps Me
- Fresh air and walking every day.
- Watching birds at my feeder.
- French Press coffee.
- Photos of my kids from around the globe.
- Foods with flavor—like brioche buns and vanilla bean ice cream.
- Reading for pleasure—not to be a better human.
- Putting down my phone which is what I’m going to do now.
