And for those who may want to reframe the overthinker or overthinking into something a little more life affirming or positive?
Perhaps the 'everthinker' might be another term that might build on a perceived strength as opposed to undermining or devaluing it as something that is over used or above and beyond what is defined as being useful or productive?
This is my first time coming across your writing, and this one landed. The line about the overthinking mind being overstaffed but never empty is exactly it, like a meeting that never ends.
I've noticed something similar with journaling, the moment a thought has to become a sentence it stops being able to hide.
Curious if you find some forms of making work better than others for you, or if it's really just about frequency over medium.
i started writing and that’s how milk and cookies was originally born. now, i practice writing, journaling, colouring and reading. other than this, i am a strong believer in hobbies so i try a bunch of different stuff and add it to my rotation if i like it!
That’s such a good way to run it, treating hobbies like a rotation instead of a rulebook. Milk and cookies makes sense now, something that started as an outlet for overthinking becoming its own thing.
I might steal the “add it if I like it” approach, feels a lot less pressured than trying to commit to one practice forever.
overthinking and being surprised sometimes seem similar. sometimes it can be frustrating, other times it goes unnoticed, although i believe they are related to our actions, what we do or leave undonde, what keeps us up at nigth and allows us to choose how to live
I instantly clicked on this article and it's music to my ears. I could have a hundred thoughts a day of what to paint, to sew, to knit and I end up getting nothing done. "a mind that produces often becomes less frightened of its own unfinished ideas." This line alone is chef's kiss. I'm going to make conscious effort today to choose at least one thought and work on it. (I feel so seen!)
Like many, this is my first time reading your page, and my first read on this app. I downloaded it as a first step. A step towards actually doing. Every sentence spoke to me because that’s how I speak to myself. Thank you for this wonderful perspective! So glad this was my first read!
You know, I once abandoned reading for quite some time because I couldn’t stand the thoughts and inner dialogues coming from all the information my brain was soaking up. It was literally driving me crazy. It was only when I discovered writing that I found the right balance between thinking about something and putting those thoughts into action. Now I really enjoy both.
By the way, I’m also a visual person, and there is nothing more relieving than putting thoughts into a sketch or drawing (I use AI for this). It’s like taking them out of my head and into a form I can observe rather than being haunted by them.
A great article! Writing it like I'm explaining the scenario to a friend is an especially good way to at least try to untangle the messy thoughts. Trying to think of more ways.
To the people reading this comment who also related deeply with this piece, question:
what is it like in your brain? what do you think about? are you a loner in a crowd?
For me, it would be severe anxiousness and overthinking regarding people, their expectations and social scenario. I had the privilege of being able to live at home with minimal social interaction until last year, so still getting out of that loner shell
One distinction I’d add is that I don’t think repetitive thoughts create the threat. I think the nervous system is already running a prediction, and the thoughts organize around it.
That’s why people can spend years analyzing different thoughts while living inside the same pattern.
When the prediction resolves, the thinking changes with it.
And for those who may want to reframe the overthinker or overthinking into something a little more life affirming or positive?
Perhaps the 'everthinker' might be another term that might build on a perceived strength as opposed to undermining or devaluing it as something that is over used or above and beyond what is defined as being useful or productive?
I love this perspective!
This is so true and beautifully said. I really struggle as an over thinker if I’m not creating - you have to get it out!
This is my first time coming across your writing, and this one landed. The line about the overthinking mind being overstaffed but never empty is exactly it, like a meeting that never ends.
I've noticed something similar with journaling, the moment a thought has to become a sentence it stops being able to hide.
Curious if you find some forms of making work better than others for you, or if it's really just about frequency over medium.
i started writing and that’s how milk and cookies was originally born. now, i practice writing, journaling, colouring and reading. other than this, i am a strong believer in hobbies so i try a bunch of different stuff and add it to my rotation if i like it!
That’s such a good way to run it, treating hobbies like a rotation instead of a rulebook. Milk and cookies makes sense now, something that started as an outlet for overthinking becoming its own thing.
I might steal the “add it if I like it” approach, feels a lot less pressured than trying to commit to one practice forever.
love it. welcome to milk and cookies 🤎
This is so beautifully written. I feel for someone like me who wants depth, simply saying- just take action won’t cut it.
twins!
overthinking and being surprised sometimes seem similar. sometimes it can be frustrating, other times it goes unnoticed, although i believe they are related to our actions, what we do or leave undonde, what keeps us up at nigth and allows us to choose how to live
i agree 🤎
Useful perspective, very elegantly expressed.
Thank you!
thank you for being here 🤎
This hit home. I've recently come out a Rumination spiral and created a series of paintings you can check out the story in the susbstack linked below!
https://catalinaoliveroart.substack.com/p/i-see-my-relationships-in-my-paintings?r=1srfrl&utm_medium=ios
I instantly clicked on this article and it's music to my ears. I could have a hundred thoughts a day of what to paint, to sew, to knit and I end up getting nothing done. "a mind that produces often becomes less frightened of its own unfinished ideas." This line alone is chef's kiss. I'm going to make conscious effort today to choose at least one thought and work on it. (I feel so seen!)
Like many, this is my first time reading your page, and my first read on this app. I downloaded it as a first step. A step towards actually doing. Every sentence spoke to me because that’s how I speak to myself. Thank you for this wonderful perspective! So glad this was my first read!
I’m blown away by the relatability of this post.
You know, I once abandoned reading for quite some time because I couldn’t stand the thoughts and inner dialogues coming from all the information my brain was soaking up. It was literally driving me crazy. It was only when I discovered writing that I found the right balance between thinking about something and putting those thoughts into action. Now I really enjoy both.
By the way, I’m also a visual person, and there is nothing more relieving than putting thoughts into a sketch or drawing (I use AI for this). It’s like taking them out of my head and into a form I can observe rather than being haunted by them.
This is brilliant and incredible timely, thank you!
A great article! Writing it like I'm explaining the scenario to a friend is an especially good way to at least try to untangle the messy thoughts. Trying to think of more ways.
To the people reading this comment who also related deeply with this piece, question:
what is it like in your brain? what do you think about? are you a loner in a crowd?
For me, it would be severe anxiousness and overthinking regarding people, their expectations and social scenario. I had the privilege of being able to live at home with minimal social interaction until last year, so still getting out of that loner shell
Oh god, i so so love this. This is a like the medicine I was in search of. Thank you so much! Love you :)
I loved this.
One distinction I’d add is that I don’t think repetitive thoughts create the threat. I think the nervous system is already running a prediction, and the thoughts organize around it.
That’s why people can spend years analyzing different thoughts while living inside the same pattern.
When the prediction resolves, the thinking changes with it.
I feel this is the only way that keeps me sane. 🥹🤞
Thank you for sharing @ayushi thakkar! 🙏🏼