Slow Down Your Frantic Thoughts
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
God has blessed us with reasonable minds. Our thoughts, ideas, and reflections bring meaning to our lives. The same mental capacity allows us to contemplate our God and nurture our trust in the divine One’s grace and care. So, if a little’s good, a lot should be better! It stands to reason that if thinking is good, there can be no such thing as overthinking. Right? Wrong!
Overthinking, or obsessive thinking, impedes a healthy thought process and erodes the potential for a thoughtful spiritual life. I turn to a writer I appreciate, Nick Wignall, for assistance. In “7 Psychological Reasons You Overthink Everything,” Wignall describes the challenge of overcoming obsessive thinking from his experience as a psychologist.
Wignall believes we overthink because it provides “The Illusion of Control.” If we think about something constantly, we will figure out how to address the challenging issue. Yet, Wignall states that when we overthink, we become susceptible to “Chronic anxiety that comes from always worrying; low self-esteem that comes from always ruminating; stress and overwhelm that comes from never feeling like we can shut off our minds.” We want certainty in life; no matter how much we reflect, certainty will remain an illusion.
Next, Wignall confirms that we overthink because of our propensity for “Perfectionism.” Overthinking gives us the false comfort of believing if we think about everything long enough, we will not make any mistakes. Again, overthinking leaves us chasing illusions. Finally, our obsessive thinking is our subconscious attempt to avoid fear. If we think through everything, we will avoid what scares us. Illusion!
The only way to overcome our obsessive thinking is to offer our concerns, fears, and imperfections to God daily. When facing an inordinately difficult challenge, prayerful breaks throughout the day calm the mind and are essential for thoughtful action. Avoidance is our way of following our illusions. Pursuing the Holy Spirit’s control means stopping regularly and giving our thoughts to the one who can make a difference. We can think more clearly and become more productive by slowing our minds, and creating room for thoughtfulness.