#79 Overthinking

Hi friends,

Earlier this week, I was wandering through a park in London, lost in thought with a deep house playlist as my soundtrack.

Usually, I don't pay much attention to the lyrics in deep house tracks, but the lines in bold caught my ear and made me pause.

I decided to sit down where I was, and as I looked around, I realised I was on Primrose Hill, coincidentally in a spot I last sat down on exactly ten years ago. I reflected on these lyrics in the context of my present life as well as the last decade. 

Deep Thinking

I'm a deep thinker, as you've probably figured out. As a reader of Plane Thoughts, chances are, you are, too. The people who have become central figures in my life have always been so. 

Few things are as gratifying and exciting in our lives as finding another mind that we can connect with at a deep level. I believe one of the greatest gifts we can be blessed with is an impressive mind. 

Overthinking

However, I've observed and experienced one significant downside to thinking at a deep level: overthinking. Those of us with the capacity for deep thought also have the capacity to overcomplicate situations.

The Science Behind Overthinking

1. Psychological Factors

People prone to overthinking often exhibit negative cognitive patterns like catastrophising and all-or-nothing thinking. It is linked with anxiety, where individuals dwell on negative thoughts. Perfectionism also plays a role; a fear of making mistakes can drive excessive mental strain.

2. Neurological Factors

The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making, and the amygdala, which processes emotions, are key brain regions involved in overthinking. Overactivation of these areas can lead to persistent rumination and heightened anxiety.

3. Physiological Factors

Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a stress hormone that affects brain function and promotes overthinking. High cortisol levels impair cognitive function, making it difficult to break the cycle of rumination. Poor sleep exacerbates overthinking by impairing brain function in areas responsible for emotional regulation and decision-making.

Head or Heart?

A good case study for overthinking is in matters of the heart, where an overactive mind can become one's worst enemy. Sometimes, thinking less is better than thinking more. We can paralyse ourselves from taking action.

We complicate it, but it can be easy if we want.

We make thousands of decisions every day, but a few key decisions have the potential to alter the course of our lives. As deep thinkers, we're well aware when this is the case, and so we think deeply. We revert to our minds, quite naturally, as it is what we attribute many of our successes to.

But that doesn't necessarily mean we'll always make the right decisions. When we ruminate, especially in isolation, we think we will make better decisions by distancing ourselves from emotion. But self-dialogue or thoughts in a journal can't capture a smile, eye contact, or a touch, the things which induce the feelings that are the true essence of life.

Sometimes, you've just got to jump, and then think later.

Implementation idea

A simple question:

Do you strike the right balance between thinking and action?

AJ.

On my bedside table:

• Song: Times Are Changing - Astrality & Thandi (link)

• Article: Why our brains crave beauty, art and nature, Financial Times (link)

You can now listen to me narrate Plane Thoughts each week: link

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