Is Too Much Thinking Bad for Your Mental State?
By MrKennedy
@MrKennedy (1978)
September 3, 2009 1:14pm CST
I remember a quote shared to me a long ago that followed the lines of, "Intelligence and happiness rarely coincides." Although not the exact quote, this statement had a particularly strong impact on me, and one that has cropped up in my mind regularly. All too often, I feel that by spending time thinking about life in general, and the world surrounding me, has a negative effect on my views. I feel that by pondering such matters, all the positive thoughts are pushed aside by the negative ones.
Admittedly, I'm glad that I have, what I would at least consider, a fair understanding of the world, yet I usually notice that it is the most oblivious and "ignorant" who find the most enjoyment from it, simply because of the fact that their minds aren't trapped in a state of over-thinking.
My question here is; Have any of you ever shared my aforementioned feeling, and has your over-thinking caused you to view the world in a more sinister view?~Mr. Kennedy~
4 responses
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
5 Sep 09
ignorance is bliss Huh???? I could never be happy without thinking, for that is what brings me happiness.You claim that thinking about this world makes you negative. THINK!! Are you depending of news programs to bring you the news??? Do you think they focus on any good news??? Next, accept the challenge to make this world a better place. Even a single person with a positive attitude can touch more lives than you can count.Remember, and think, you decide what you deem important in this world. See the goodness! Spread the goodness!!! THINK the answers!! Use that wonderful mind of yours to change the world as we know it. I believe in you!!! We are meant to think!!!
@MrKennedy (1978)
•
6 Sep 09
I agree with you that humans are meant to think, because I believe our thoughts are what make us human to begin with.
And on the subject of news, I tend to ignore it unless it's absoluetly important, and even then I'll be cautious of how much the media have altered it to create false exaggeration and negativity.
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
3 Sep 09
I can find the positive side of almost anything. Try turning off your thoughts, and you'll see that it's just about impossible. Then practice channeling them toward the positive, and it's better!
@maryihla (103)
• United States
3 Sep 09
My problem is not over-thinking, but rather a failure to produce follow-up action. When developing projects, I spend an inordinate amount time in the planning stage, which results in time-management problems. Also, once the creative idea has left my head and migrated to the real world, I tend to lose interest.
The quote may refer to the tendency of intelligent individuals to analyze every aspect of their lives to the point that they can not experience simple happiness. Children have the capacity to enjoy life without question, to splash in puddles after a spring rain without concern for ruining their shoes, to sing in the sunshine not caring whether they get the words right or sing in tune.
Someone once said, "Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child." Good advice!
@becky01 (81)
•
3 Sep 09
I don't think that thinking is bad for your mental state unless the things that you are thinking are negative (like you rightly say) Personally I would much rather think about everything than be ignorant. I find that when I am in a depessed state, thinking is difficult, I always used to think so much and now that I find it harder I realise what an amazing ability it is; to be able to think, consider the world around me and just absorb all the amazing things that happen everyday. Without thinking how would I be able to appreciate the world. So I am glad to think "too much" whether or not it has an effect on my mental state, I don't know....although I do know I'd rather think and let the consequences wash over me than live in a world where I was ignorant to many things.
