OverThinking

 Overthinking can destroy one's soul.  Pondering life's problems is one thing, but overthinking is self-destructive.  I still backslide into overthinking.  But I have done this all my life.  Overthinking was my lifestyle.  But no one told me what it was.  It was a lifestyle that nearly destroyed myself and my soul.  It took Divine intervention to stop doing that to myself.  

Nothing is more destructive of a person than overthinking.  When we accept what is as is, we begin to focus and leave the outcome to what is, NOT what it WILL be, simply because we do not know.  The one key to relaxation is to NOT overthink.  

Overthinking makes us neurotic.  When I relax with a pipe, the one thing I work hardest on is my habit of overthinking.  I had to learn this.  But like so many things I say here, it can't be taught to learn not to overthink.  It has to be a goal.  One has to choose to NOT overthink.  There has to be an acceptance of what we are unable change.  And the one thing we cannot change is what is past.  And the future is largely unknown.  

Anticipation is one thing, but dwelling on something we do not know will make us neurotic.  I know of that which I write.  Overthinking contributes to heart disease and mental illness.  It is a contributing factor to alcohol and drug abuse and can create a paralyzing fear.  When we let go of overthinking, we are giving up that which we have no control.  But the one thing we can control are our thoughts.  Overthinking is just that.  

Overthinking means our thoughts control us and not the other way around.  What we think might be the worst often is not.  Overthinking is letting the future control us and not the other way around.  I like it best when I can be more in the background because my psyche is designed that way and I am less prone to overthinking.

This defines me.  I am not an out-front leader, because my mind is designed that way, or at least developed that way.  I am designed to listen more and lead quietly.  But I've learned that being this way keeps my mind calm.  Otherwise I am prone to overthinking.  It has taken me decades to learn to be this way, but I say it is by design.  Some might say it is by fate, but I give more credit to the Divine than to say this is the way I am.

But I've had to learn something I wasn't taught as I wasn't taught to overthink.  I say it could be situational, but I give more credit to the Divinity as to the way I am.  I was designed to be the way I am, but this is the theologian in me and NOT the philosopher.  I recognize the philosophy of overthinking, but not doing so is the theologian in me.  The Behavioral psychologist says what we learn can be unlearned.  

I simply say I am the way I am now as a theologian.  The Divine had to change me and I serve a Divine reason for my being the way I am.  Simply because it's so easy to say not to do it, but to leave it to the Divine.  What will be is by design and often not our own making.

I don't have room in the blog to write a book about the topics I choose to write about here.  I plant themes and there is just so much out there for you to read or watch.  I give themes here not treatises.  Keep in mind I take a very Buddhistic approach to themes and let you do your own research.  

A Buddhist generally wouldn't smoke a pipe nor would one imbibe.  But my thinking is more Eastern than Western.  Smoking a pipe is very Western.  But it is a part of my religion, which I'll write about, but neither encourage or discourage.  It is my thing for my own reasons.

Today it is my Savinelli St. Nicholas pipe,  I received as a gift from my wife two Christmases ago, with Captain Black Original.  I smoke this pipe year round to serve as a reminder of Christmases past.  Every day needs to be Christmas in my thinking.  I thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave