Day 1933: Overthinking

Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard several people in therapy express concerns over how they’ve been overthinking.

Overthinking (as described by a thinker at inc.com) “can cause problems. When you overthink, your judgment gets cloudy and your stress gets elevated.  You spend too much time in the negative. It can be difficult to act.”  Overthinking  also interferes with sleep and contributes to anxiety, depression, and self-medicating with food, drugs, or alcohol (there’s more about  overthinking over at thelawofattraction.com).

Last night, I called Michael over to go over my many worried thoughts about matters hanging over me. When my fitful monologue was over, Michael thought over what he’d heard and said, “Ann, the way you’re overthinking borders on the completely ridiculous.”   I realized that the way I was overthinking didn’t border on the completely ridiculous — it actually went over the border into the completely ridiculous.

Michael helps me get control over my overthinking.  However, I’m not over overthinking — it’s a habit that’s hard to get over.  I know I’m overthinking again this morning, because I’m anxious over decisions I made over the long weekend and I’m overthinking the consequences.  However, I’m not thinking that I might be overlinking  to that inc. article about “10 Simple Ways You Can Stop Yourself from Overthinking,” which includes

• Don’t think about what can go wrong, but what can go right.
• Distract yourself into happiness.
• Put things into perspective.
• Stop waiting for perfection.
• Change your view of fear.
• Realize you can’t predict the future.
• Accept your best.

Yes, I was overthinking many things yesterday, but not my early morning tweeting:

After reading the latest dispatches in these celebrity/political feuds: When did “turn the other cheek” become hit them in the cheek 10 times harder?

And I wasn’t  overthinking when I took these photos:

I don’t think I’m all by myself alone in overthinking, even though it drives people bananas. At this point, I don’t want to rethink anything, including my pretzel.

When this post is over, please bring over your thinking about overthinking, rethinking, and other kinds of thinking.

Here’s “Overthinking” by L2M:

The last recommendation in that inc. article about stopping overthinking is “be grateful.”  That’s why I don’t overthink my thanks, I just express them.

Day 1904: How to Survive Anything

After surviving another day yesterday, I noticed this magazine at our local supermarket.

I didn’t buy that, probably because I don’t believe I can survive anything. Eventually, something is going to get me.

In the meantime, I wish there was a survival magazine for penguins …

… who are doing fine in the supermarket but are struggling to survive in the wild (see here for more about penguin survival).

If you were going to write something titled “How to Survive Anything,” what might you include?  I would include

• seeing great movies,

• doing things with those you love,

• taking bathroom breaks,
• learning from those around me (including cats),

• eating cake,

• having all my feelings (including getting pissy sometimes),
• looking forward to spring,

• touching and feeling,
• feeling better and cheering up,

• letting go of worry,

• puns,

• good food,

• music,

• kindness, and
• gratitude to all, including YOU.

Day 1881: So much to love about —

There’s so much to love about my co-worker Juli, who offered me this Rice Krispies treat yesterday.

So much to love about —

• Rice Krispies treats,
• Generous people,
• The world,

• Bunnies,

 

• Dogs,

• Life,
• Stories,

• Writing,
• Singing,
• Balloons,

• Birthdays,
• My son Aaron, who turned 20 yesterday,
• Memories of past birthdays,

• 11 year olds,
• This video Aaron made when he was 11 years old,

• Comments on this blog,
• Everyone who helped me create today’s post,
• You, and
• Thanks!

Day 1828: Where have all the _______ gone?

Yesterday, I took a look at my local supermarket,  saw this ….

… and immediately thought of this song:

 

Where have all the

• flowers,
• folk singers,
• sing-alongs,
• bees,
• frogs,
• endangered species,
• peace talks,
• chocolate futures, and
• smart leaders gone?

When will we ever learn?

Where have all my photos gone? Gone to blog posts, every one.

Where have all the comments gone?  I’ll look for them later, when I’m less clueless and more clueful.

Where have all the thanks gone?  They’re here, at the end of every blog.