When you can’t do a job you’re expected to do, when you’re deemed suitable and promoted to a new position, when you argue with your family or your girlfriend/boyfriend, and many more, certain thoughts start to settle in our minds. This situation, which has been quite natural so far, starts to repeat if we are not conscious, and our path leads to overthinking.
In fact, these considerations help us to review the factors that triggered them in the first place. For example, when you argue with your girlfriend/boyfriend, she will reconsider the discussion and if you are objective you can see the problem without taking sides. This prevents you from conflicting on the same issue when you reconcile. But what happens when it comes to overthinking? Let’s see together.
Thoughts such as “What will I do in the future?”, “What will my financial situation be like?”, “Will I find someone who loves me?”, “I will never succeed”, occupy our minds while nothing is clear:
Actually, we can say that it is good up to a point to think about them and look for results. In the end, planned progress does not hurt, on the contrary, it has many benefits. But here we need to be able to distinguish between overthinking. So what is this distinction?
Let’s say you are a student who wants to become a lawyer. If you don’t know how to do it and you think desperately, it repeats and leads to overthinking. Here, however, you become unable to move forward because you go over the same thought over and over again.
On the other hand, if you take a look at what you need to do to become a lawyer, set up a plan and program accordingly, and follow the program, this will be quite healthy for you, unlike the previous one, and it will allow you to reach your lawyer goal earlier than usual.
Overthinking works both backwards and forwards, which hinders the development of individuals
Lessons from our past mistakes and these lessons prevent us from repeating the same mistake in the future. In this way, we can say that we are in a better situation than we were in the past. In this context, when we learn the necessary lessons, the mistakes of the past do not matter. At least someone who doesn’t suffer from overthinking can say that.
Because when this situation reaches the level of excessive thinking, individuals continue to think constantly even if they learn from the past. For example, let’s say you had an argument with your girlfriend and broke up years ago. If you are still thinking about that discussion after 5, maybe 10 years, and this affects your efficiency and sleep quality in your daily life, you are overthinking.
This doesn’t mean, of course, to be cheeky and forget everything. Rather, we say that if you are wrong, you should try not to repeat the same mistake again, and if the other person is wrong, you should be aware of it.
Overthinking, caused by our inability to start and stop analyzing different possibilities, is not a disease, it is sometimes said to be good. It’s also something that everyone has at least some. So is it possible to get rid of it all at once?
Earlier we talked about the Streissand effect, which causes the forbidden things to backfire more strongly. If you suddenly say to yourself “don’t overthink”, a similar effect will likely occur. Just like when cigarettes are suddenly cut off or children are banned from computers.
But what should we do then?
Overly detailed thinking comes from excessive anxiety. Anxiety is present in every aspect of our lives. You worry when you get a promotion, you worry when you open up to someone you love, you worry when you have a pet, and there is no escape from these anxieties.
Therefore, the most effective and productive thing you can do is to accept them and do your best in the situation you are in. For example, if you are deemed suitable for promotion, you may get lost in your mind while thinking about how to fulfill the new responsibilities, and therefore, you may inevitably reduce your productivity in your job.
This may cause you to lose that promotion before it even comes. In the same way, while preparing for exams, thinking desperately about “how will I do it” will make you repeat. But no matter how bad the circumstances, starting somewhere is the way to success.
In short, your problem-solving skills will move you forward. Overthinking, on the other hand, hinders your development by causing you to become more immersed in the problem you are in. Finally, if you think that this situation has started to affect your daily life badly, it will be very useful to consult a specialist.
It will be beneficial for you to stay away from motivation pages that give unrealistic advice
Sources: Executive Support Magazine, Experience Psychology, GoodRx, Very Well Mind
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