We are in the Information Age, constantly bombarded with dry knowledge. People who often watch talk shows on social media live in the bubble that they are experts in every possible field. The end result? Overthinking — a byproduct of half-baked wisdom, the silent threat to our destruction today.
Overthinking is accentuated by spirituality because it worsens as a person becomes more mindful. What can we do about it? Walk with me as I explore this issue, its detrimental effects, and a few methods to break free.
Why Do We Overthink?
Psychologically speaking —
Overthinking stems from a desire for perfection. A person plagued with this struggles with the fear of making mistakes. They crave social approval in everything because they are unsure if they should trust their own minds.
Unfortunately, this condition not only consumes time and energy but also paralyzes people with indecision. The more such a person dwells on a topic, the more overwhelming it becomes to handle their mind.
As many define it, overthinking is the paralysis of analysis. It ruins you, distorts your view of yourself, and causes you to worry excessively, leading to chronic unhappiness.
Perfection Vs. Excellence
You can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it. — Albert Einstein
That quote sums up everything you need to conquer overthinking. Over-thinkers are caught in the fantasy world of perfection. To escape this illusionary trap, you must alter your thinking. For this, you must first understand the distinction between perfection and excellence.
Perfection means setting some high benchmark for yourself and working to meet it. The problem is that many people have no idea of what precisely this standard is that they are striving for. As a result, perfection is mostly a moving target. No matter what you accomplish, you can never attain that benchmark because your goal is invisible and unclear.
Excellence, on the other hand, is measurable. You simply examine yourself to see if you have progressed from the previous time you performed that same task. For example, if you are a blogger, compare your post to your prior one. You are more than done if your new post looks better than your previous one! Now, leave it alone and move on to the next thing.
Breaking Free
Here are some practical tips for conquering overthinking:
- Embrace excellence, not perfection. Whenever you spend too much time on some activity, remind yourself that excellence is truth and perfection is a myth. This helps your mind comprehend these terms.
- Set realistic expectations. Set a realistic goal before beginning any task. Returning to the blogger example, you can’t expect to be the best writer overnight. You can, however, set tiny targets for improvement. For instance, I learned one blogging tip before each post. Then, I focused on implementing that well. With time, the quality of my posts improved.
- Systematic approach to decision making. Set up a decision-making framework instead of letting your mind run around in circles. Write down your thoughts and expectations in every situation. This gives you a tangible way to analyze them, bringing mental clarity to deal with overthinking.
- Challenge self-deprecating thoughts. Self-doubt fuels overthinking. Anytime you find yourself engaging in self-criticism, challenge those thoughts to foster a positive mindset through self-affirmations.
You have the power to heal your life, and you need to know that. We think so often that we are helpless, but we’re not. We always have the power of our minds… Claim and consciously use your power. — Louise L. Hay
Use Mindfulness Constructively
Mindfulness makes overthinking worse, but it is also the remedy for overthinking. Instead of mindfully condemning yourself, mindfully appreciate yourself. This minor shift suddenly makes a world of difference.
As against falling into the trap of perfection and beating yourself up for making mistakes, congratulate yourself on your tiny achievements. Be kind to yourself when you make errors because these help you grow. Accept yourself. Respect yourself. Value yourself.
Above all, instead of succumbing to the curse of overthinking by labeling yourself as an expert, nurture the curious child in you and be open to learning as many greats do. As Steve Jobs said —
Stay Hungry; Stay Foolish!
Love,
Sri Devi Om
