How overthinking people think? As one of them, I can share my
perspective about this.
Overthinking is not as simple you might think. It is not just about
making a plan with a backup plan and another plan, and another plan, and
another… okay that is enough. It is related to fear and anxiety.
Overthinking also does not recognize what is so called as ‘Time’. I
could regret things I did in the past. I could fear of what kind of future I might
face later on.
In the end overthinking does not see things whether it is big or small.
It could happen in any size.
Let us take an example to make it clear. Overthinkers sometimes hard to
decide what to eat for lunch. It is not because they are picky but because they
overthink about it. Does this food healthy enough? How much calories does it
contain? Do I deserve this kind of meal? How much money I have spent on food
this month including my next lunch? Last week I got diarrhea, is it okay for me
to eat this? Does this food also exist on Antarctica (okay this is
certainly a joke, but you get my point)?
That is just a simple example. But how can we overcome overthinking?
The not ‘overthinker’ will say “Do not think and it will be alright!”
Well, technically it is true. But not all overthinking person is stupid
enough not to realize that. Personally, I have tried it myself and did not
quite work.
With that being said, i will try to explain one method that I used to
calm myself when overthinking strikes. Makes everything you doubt into only YES
or NO question and ignore everything that does not have a YES or NO as an
answer. It is as simple as that.
Taking the lunch example once again. at first glance you will ask
yourself What lunch should I have for today? Change it into, Is anything I eat
for lunch, okay? If it is a yes, you are done. If it is a no, ask yourself
again, using a YES or NO question. Do not ask yourself, what should I eat then?
But ask it like, Can I eat steak today?
NEVER use who, what, where, when, why, how when you are in doubt.
Remember, use this only when you think you overthink this a bit too much.
With only two option, YES or NO, you will limit yourself to only ‘overthink’
about that YES or NO. you cannot say other than that.
Make this into a Tree flow diagram. It should look like this.
I hope this method also works for you. If not, feel free to ask me for
help on brianreynald89@gmail.com. Have a nice Weekend!
