Thinking is, more often than not, an antagonistic force in our lives. Rarely are we able to control it. Our entire interface with reality is dependent on the inner interpretations of our external experiences, which puts a lot of pressure on us to have positive thoughts. But are we wired to think positively?
Nature is nothing to scoff at; Mother Gaia can smooth out the sharpest edges of a stone, transform ecosystems overnight, and bring whole species to the brink of extinction. With this in mind, it's no wonder why the human brain is so skilled at preparing for the worst-case scenario at any given time, or what we call in the modern era, an anxiety disorder.
At its least intrusive point, thinking and thought obsession could deter all of our physical skills. When one is preoccupied with thoughts, taking action is demoted as a secondary task. Ask any athlete what's going on in their head when they're in the zone; they definitely aren't thinking about what they'll have for lunch later.
The worst that can come from overthinking is identifying with thoughts. If we were to become consumed by thinking, we might confuse ourselves with thought itself. But we are more than just our inner monologues, the repetitive rehearsals of conversations that have come and gone; the worries and anxieties, the causes of which won't change no matter how much we think about them.
If only we would be willing to let go, even just for a moment, of the incessant nagging of our ego-drowned minds. Then we'd be able to see the infinite connection we have with the universe.
But just as we had to learn how to think, we must also slowly learn how to stop thinking, disengage with our mind, and not let thoughts interfere with our chance to experience pure being.
With time and practice, our minds will have no control over us and how we feel. Instead, our thoughts will return to being just a tool to be used when needed.
