7 Reasons it’s actually good to be an overthinker: this topic seems weird but I just have to put this out there and guess what, you actually searched for it.
I’ve thought a lot since I can remember. The perfectionist in me did not make things any easier.
I weighed the what-ifs and ran all possible scenarios through my head before taking any further action.
Should I stop doing something that, whilst it can be exhausting, has pretty much helped me, and shaped who I am today?
Are there advantages to being an “overthinker”? Whoa!!! I believe the “overthinking” mode has now been engaged.
Personally, I have been caught up in the act of overthinking several times and I’d readily admit, that in some of those situations, it didn’t auger the best outcome.
Take, for instance, the situation where I overthought an exam performance prior to the release of the results.
“It was a challenging time for me since I was thinking so much that I overanalyzed and rated my exam performance as a complete failure, before even seeing the scores”.
Still, there’s no denying that being an “overthinker” has some perks to it. To find out, continue reading.
Defining the term “Overthinking”
The very term “overthinking” has a negative connotation. Overthinking is defined by Cambridge Dictionary as “the act of thinking about something too much, in a way that is not useful.”
Permit me to enlarge the definition’s two descriptive forms. First off, the notion of “too much” is incredibly subjective.
It demands that there be a “just right” level to use as a benchmark for comparison.
The distinction between “thinking too much” and “thinking just right” is not always clear.
And quite certainly, my definition of that phrase will differ from yours.
Secondly, the term “not useful” is likewise awfully subjective. Imagine that in running an errand, a young girl goes to a grocery store to buy some beans for her mother who wants to prepare the dish known in local parlance as “moi-moi”.
However, her mother forgets to indicate the type of beans she wants. The young girl stands and surveys the assortment of beans in the store, deliberating long and hard on which one to purchase.
If you were standing beside the girl, and watching her, you might think, ” why is she taking so long to make a choice? She must be overthinking, just pick any beans!”
To you, thinking about the type of beans to buy is definitely not useful, she ought to have an idea of what she is supposed to purchase.
The girl, though, knows otherwise. Few people can stand her mother’s anger.
Last time, her mother erupted into an explosive outburst when she brought home green peppers instead of red bell peppers, yelling at the top of her lungs and berating her for her foolishness.
To prevent such reoccurrence, the girl will undoubtedly benefit from carefully considering the type of beans to purchase.
Regardless of her mother’s failure to specify what she wants, the girl tries to recall the appearance of the beans her mother uses whenever she prepares the dish.
She will take longer than usual but eventually will come to a thoughtful conclusion. You can see that what is seemingly useful to her may not be useful to another. Continue reading to find out the signs of an overthinker in a relationship too.
Is Overthinking the actual problem?
Really, we should replace the word “overthinking” with terms like “inappropriate negative thinking” or “poorly focused thinking.”
But, those don’t exactly come to mind as quickly, which is why overthinking has become a popular word.
Yet if we take a closer look, it’s not necessarily your thought processes that are having a detrimental effect on your life and performance. I know you have questions to am I overthinker quiz section: https://psychologia.co/overthinking-test/
The real culprit is having incorrect thoughts in mind. Picture yourself performing a sport while your mind is racing with uplifting, optimistic ideas.
The only images that appear on the canvas of your imagination are ones of you excelling, the only voice you hear is one extolling your virtues.
Do you believe you would be so worried about overthinking if this were the case?
Most likely not! In fact, I’d wager that you would look for opportunities to engage in this mode of thinking more.
That’s because your thoughts directly affect how you feel. By thinking only good things, you will reflect that in your emotional state.
When you give something a lot of thought, you are more inclined to analyze it in great detail—you consider both the pros and cons.
The difficulty is that most individuals tend to focus more on the negative parts of a situation, giving the impression of negative thinking, which certainly is not useful, hence the tag overthinking.
One of the ways to stop overthinking has to be concentrating on the right things rather than the issue which could lead to overthinking, which in all entirety isn’t a bad thing.
One thing I must mention is, while scrutinizing every facet of a matter can be exhausting, the most astounding ideas can spring up this way.
With that being said, let’s briefly explore 7 positives to being an overthinker
1. Improved self-awareness
It takes more than just constant pondering to qualify as an overthinker.
These individuals also contemplate the thoughts they have as well. In such a way, more self-awareness may arise.
It’s easy to understand why this is the case. When pondering over their thoughts, overthinkers often scrutinize the origins of those thoughts.
Additionally, they also consider the source of their thoughts and the reason behind them.
As such, this offers them a chance to develop personally and modify the way they think.
2. Detail-oriented: 7 Reasons It’s Actually Good to be an Overthinker
Overthinkers are very perceptive people. They are thorough and pay special attention to the little things. Overthinking in the wrong way could lead to destructive thought patterns.
When it comes to solving problems, this is a genuine asset. An overthinker can identify blind spots and notice details that other people miss.
A person who possesses this quality is more likely to succeed in challenging situations since they can analyze every little aspect and work to come up with the finest solutions.
The actual strength of overthinkers is their attention to detail
3. Enhanced critical thinking
When approaching a problem, an overthinker typically evaluates all conceivable possibilities and weighs every possible option.
While this may come off as “over-thinking”, it is a valuable asset.
How? Well, in such an event, one is empowered to make more informed decisions, after critically analyzing the situation.
The resultant outcome is often more practical and lasting solutions.
Whilst often exacting, overthinking sharpens the faculties, enhances critical thinking, and helps one solve complicated problems.
4. Innovativeness
Overthinking can promote innovative and imaginative problem-solving since it encourages thinking outside the box.
Our thoughts stray when we ruminate. A person who overthinks a situation will weigh several potential alternatives.
Overthinkers excel when they are not constrained by traditional thinking.
They explore a wide range of options and cultivate an inventive outlook on life in general.
Moreover, those who brood over different thoughts are more likely to daydream, which can result in original ideas.
Picture someone who frequently daydreams and has a lot of internal ideas.
Such individuals will develop original solutions to certain difficulties if their inner thoughts are focused on a particular issue.
After all, it is stated that creative solutions are frequently discovered by those with active minds.
5. Empathetic Tendencies
Overthinkers generally tend to be empathetic and take into account the feelings of others.
This is largely attributable to their capacity to put themselves in others’ shoes.
An overthinker tends to dwell on every word and action following an interaction with others, and where necessary seek to make behavioral adjustments.
Additionally, they can comprehend the perspectives of others. As a result, they are able to establish solid connections and communicate more effectively.
6. Increased preparedness
An overthinker is rarely surprised by anything. Would you like to know why? Well, this is because they’ve already envisioned every likely possibility.
Overthinkers give the what-ifs and what-not questions a lot of thought, ensuring that every likely scenario is accounted for, and as a result, they are more or less prepared for any situation/outcome.
7. Enhanced communication abilities
Many times, overthinkers make excellent communicators.
This stems from the fact that they tend to put careful consideration to both their intended message and its delivery.
Being able to read between the lines and take into account the perspectives of others consequently results in more emotionally intelligent communication.
PS:
As a side note, I must highlight that these positives are only as good as they get when the individual can find some measure of balance.
Overthinkers often make the mistake of wanting everything to be perfect because they are so detail-oriented, self-conscious, and thorough with their thinking.
The result is they oftentimes become painfully aware of what could go wrong almost every time.
Additionally, such overthinking tendencies most times culminate into excessive self-criticism, negative self-talk, and worst of all, second-guessing & over-complicating situations.
Likewise, an overthinker can think themselves into oblivion, especially during anxious moments.
Notwithstanding, one’s ability to turn overthinking into a strength makes all the difference in their potential to thrive in their life’s endeavors.
Closing thoughts
When all is said and done, the place of balance and moderation can not be overemphasized.
You are more advantaged if you can streamline your thinking in such a way that it suits and positively impacts the given situation.
It’s only then that the perks of being an overthinker can be fully exploited to become one’s most valuable asset.
Are those who overthink smarter?
You may already be aware of the neurological linkage between social anxiety and intelligence or the link between highly creative people and mental illness, but you may not be aware that worrying, and specifically overthinking, has now been connected to creative genius.
Who are overthinkers in society?
Although overthinking in and of itself is not a mental illness, it is linked to a variety of disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Rumination, which takes the shape of unfavorable ideas about the pain and recovering from it, can be widespread among people with chronic pain and chronic illnesses.
