GiveLoveLiveMore

If you’ve been with me this long, you’ve undoubtedly noticed something: I tend to overthink. I’ve tried to NOT do it, which hasn’t worked. I really gave it my best try. Denial is the first step, they say but I’m not buying it. I tried denying that I was an overthinker. That only lasted a few steps before I started thinking about ignoring this ridiculous trait of mine. UGH! I want to scream! I’ve ignored it. Gymed it. “Filled my day to the brim”-ed it. Journaled it. I’ve even prayed, “God, please help me to stop over thinking.”

Nope. I still do it.

My overthinking manifests itself like multiple open tabs in a web browser (I have about 50 open at this very moment). I live somewhere between “this is for that” and “that’s because of this.” I’m constantly putting out fires, long before they even exist.

I’ve tried all sorts of things to rid myself of this treacherous dis-ease. Nothing has worked. Overthinking has to be a long distance runner because it always catches up with me. Always. It is exhausting yet I don’t know how to stop it. I journal daily to give my thoughts some place to go (research The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron). Journaling helps but it’s not a cure all. I work hard at not overthinking…..just to overthink anyway.

I’ve thought recently that maybe I’ve been looking at this all wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t ask, beg or plead for it to go away.

Why is this my proclivity (this isn’t my only one, but one-at-a-time please)? How could I possibly see this as a benefit?

I harness my overthinking when I’m on shoots, mitigating mistakes. I think of 11 possible scenarios in which things could go awry, and the last scenario is the easiest one: everything goes well. I’ve tried to be the person that thinks that “everything works out in the end,” but I’m usually too busy planning to enjoy that thought.

My most enjoyable benefit of overthinking is the fact that I can think. I love my mind. I love thinking. In college, my chapter brothers were going to name me “Knowledge,” for obvious reasons. I love problem-solving. I will not allow a problem to get the best of me. I will think my way through it. I question things. I am investigative in my approach to many things. I stop to think. I am thankful for my ability and this gift of thinking.

What I have landed on is that thinking too much is overthinking. Not thinking enough is not for me either. It is good for me to settle somewhere in the middle. A balance is good. Now, how do I become balanced in thinking? I can start by listening to music more. And yes—this is coming from a guy who absolutely loves music. Nevertheless, this is about intentionality. I also can exercise more, getting out thoughts and leaving them on the sauna room floor. I can choose to laugh more. In fact, I have challenged myself to laugh more in the next 30 days (I wrote it down in my agenda book).

In an intentional effort to be more balanced, I think that’s enough.

Until Next Time,

Love & Peace.

-Herbie