6 Revealing Signs You’re Just Overthinking Things
Have you ever considered that you’re just overthinking?
This subject is near and dear to my heart as for the longest time I was unaware that my “overthinking” was the cause of most if not all of my problems.
The strange thing is when you are an overthinker you assume that everyone thinks to the same extent as you do -well that is just not true.
Fortunately for me, I sort out some professional help and slowly was able to learn to identify why and when my thinking was irrational and not benefiting me or others in my life.
So at what point does serious thinking or planning become obsessive overthinking?
To help you clarify this ask yourself these questions:
How Many Times Have You Gone Over This in Your Mind?
Considering a new thought or question a few times is natural.
While carefully considering a new idea can be an excellent thing, there comes a time when thinking about something that needs to give way to action.
Sometimes, though, we stall ourselves out by getting so involved in our thoughts, we procrastinate or even worse, never act at all.
If you’re constantly mulling over an idea for several hours or even days, you’re probably getting too caught up in your thoughts. Stop. It’s time to make a decision or take action.
How Many Times Have You Gone Over That Conversation?
Overthinkers can’t let anything rest.
If you find yourself revisiting past discussions to the point where you have every piece of dialogue memorized, and even analyzed, you’re overthinking.
This can cause many problems in any relationship.
Although it’s natural to revisit conversations in our heads at times it is destructive and futile to play those games of “I wish I had said that or I can’t believe he said that.”
The conversation is over so let it go.
Where are the Shades of Grey?
People who overthink tend to concentrate on absolutes – everything is either all one way or another. There’s never any middle ground.
If you can’t find the shades of grey, you’re overthinking things.
Perhaps modern society has contributed to this idea of there are only winners or losers in life when instead we inherently know that we are all equal and all deserve to be heard and have an opinion for which we are not judged.
The greatest cure for this is learning empathy …next time you can’t see it from another point of view just try to imagine “being in their shoes”.
How Important is What Other People Think?
This goes back to the idea of repeating conversations in your head.
Typically, we obsess over what the other person said because we’re worried about their opinion of us.
If you’re concerned about how the world sees you, you’re already in trouble. The truth of the matter? At this point, you’re thinking about them, far more than they’re thinking about you.
Your only responsibility is to be responsible for your own opinion of yourself – so make sure it’s a good one.
What is the Motivation?
If you’re spending a lot of time trying to figure out why people are saying or doing something, you’re venturing into dangerous territory.
Unless you’re wanting to find out something positive (such as how they did something you want to emulate), you’re wasting your own time.
What does it matter if they chose to do a certain thing, especially one you don’t agree with?
Unless it impacts you directly, it’s none of your business.
How Are You Sleeping?
If racing thoughts are keeping you up at night, you’re overthinking, plain, and simple.
Bedtime is when you’re supposed to let go and allow yourself to rest.
The best antidote for this is journaling or just doing a “brain dump” onto paper of all the thoughts that are worrying you – you can now sleep better knowing that they are there waiting for you when you wake up in the morning.
Last thoughts on you’re just overthinking things
Whenever you allow yourself to be caught up in a spiral of worry and anxiety, you’re allowing your thoughts to take control of your day or even your life.
The signs you’re overthinking things include:
- Repeatedly going over the same thoughts in your mind without making decisions or taking action
- Replaying the same conversations in your mind
- Worrying about what others think
- Worrying about why others did or said the things they did
- Having Black and White thoughts
- Can’t get to sleep
Over time, your thoughts can take over your life, keeping you from the things you desire. When this happens, it’s time to take a solid step back so you can restore the appropriate balance once again.
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6 Revealing Signs You’re Just Overthinking Things