Thinking easily transports us away from the present, into the uncertain future, or back into the disappointing past, so that every day, for large periods of time, we can wander distractedly among our thoughts instead of attending to the here and the now. Thinking may place us at the forefront of evolution, and it may help us colonize Mars one day, but would it be an overstatement to say that overthinking is one of the big problems of our generation? Our modern comforts cushion and cosset our bodies, but there are no easy chairs on which our minds can stop and rest.
We think when we are alone. We think when we are with others. We think at work. We think at home. We think when we wash the dishes or tidy up our rooms. We think on paper. We think on our blogs. We think and think and think. The same recurrent thoughts return to us constantly under different variations, following deep-rooted thought patterns.
“I think and think and think, I’ve thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it.” ― from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer
I have neurotic tendencies – my mind can think and think, analyzing, comparing, weighing this against that, considering advantages and disadvantages, wondering what if and what if not, and so on. I can think myself into sadness about events I anticipate happening, and which never actually occur. I can think I understand myself and others, until I think I actually don’t. I think I know what I want, but then I think otherwise.
Without thinking we wouldn’t be here. We do have to think, but not all the time. Just as there are spaces between the trees in a forest – glades, meadows, clearings, footpaths – there should be empty spaces in the forest that is our mind. Yes, empty spaces: moments when we still our mind and become aware of the present moment, regardless of what we are doing or how. And I don’t mean sleep.
When’s the last time you heard the silence between two noises that came in through your window? Or felt the frothy tickle of the soapy water as you washed a dish? Or enjoyed the soft texture of your pajamas as you put them on? If you can’t remember, chances are you were too busy thinking about something or other at the time.
“Stop thinking, and end your problems.” ― Lao Tzu
Let’s make a conscious effort not to think all the time, so that our thoughts will make less noise, so that we can hear more clearly the sounds of the world and of the people around us. Let’s think when we have to, and let’s try not to think when we don’t. Let’s return to the present, becoming aware of our feet on the ground, of the position and weight of our body, of the invisible swinger in our chest that is our breathing. And let’s clear our mind of thoughts and still it. Let’s observe it, let’s watch it as it tries to link new thoughts. And let’s allow them to pass, let us not cling to them.
Don’t you feel, at least sometimes, that your mind thinks too much? Don’t you wish you had an on/off thinking switch?
boy with a hat 
I, myself have experienced a lot with overthinking. I think in bathroom when I shower, on motorbike when I drive, in kitchen when I eat, and I think everywhere when I worry about something. I remember few weeks back, I think too much leading me to overpass my house when I drive back home. I think about random things from work to friendship, love, and future me. Sometimes, I smile alone, and monologue.Sometimes, I feel positive; but sometimes, I feel pessimistic. I just can’t stop thinking. I think, think, and think.
Thinking on a motorbike are you? That could get you into trouble. 🙂
I was about having traffic accidents several times.
I love this! Yes, we need to make room for contemplation.
Reblogged this on oltreleparole and commented:
Just stop thinking, just sometimes!!!
excellent post. i am a great believer in Mindfulness training as a daily practice. it helps with the obsessive tendencies. i posted a few weeks ago on mindfulness as it relates to the writing process.
https://wordpress.com/post/libbysommer.wordpress.com/757 thanks so much for your consistent very thoughtful posts.
I am happy to hear that. The link you have shared doesn’t work, and I can’t seem to locate that particular post on your blog, either. Perhaps you could resend it? 🙂
thanks for letting me know the link doesn’t work. i’m still new to all of this and am still making lots of errors. here is the link again. the post is titled ‘Turning Toward the Inner Critic’
https://libbysommer.wordpress.com/2016/06/04/turning-towards-the-inner-critic/
i’m currently enrolled in the WordPress Blogging University. a steep learning curve. 🙂
Great quote by Foer, I’d never thought of it that way.
As for overthinking and the on off switch…we have one, sleep 🙂
Yes, sleep is definitely a relief, but even during sleep our minds keep on running, especially when we’re stressed out, hence nightmares, morning fatigue, insomnia and the like. It would be amazing though if the on/off sleep switch would work at any time during the day and whenever we wanted it to. 🙂
True, it’d be very handy, like a temporary reset free from worries.
Neurotic tendencies — so do I. But I guess thinking is an involuntary response, like the beating of our hearts, a constant retaliation of the use of our senses. I think we all have the tendency to overthink.
To some extent, yes, but thinking can be controlled. As Viktor Frankl said, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” We can’t abolish thinking, but we can pause it.
Even that ‘Space’ stimulates over thinking. It’s like Zeno’s “Motion is impossible.”
I love this. You are right. Very timely advice. 🙂
You’re great writer!
That’s good to hear. 🙂
You have really good thinking and the way you organize your thoughts, it is amazing.
I really hope you’re not just saying this to get two invisible gifts. 🙂
I hear for that for the first time. No, I have told you this because I want you to know (and I am sure you are aware of it, too) that you are a good writer. When reading your blogs and poems you really have my full attention. And that is what differ you from other writers.
I was joking, of course. I tip my hat.
Too bad you don’t have a blog (anymore).
I really hope you’re not just saying this to get two invisible gifts.