Today I’d like to share some valuable life lessons for over-thinkers.  But first let me establish that I too am a certified over thinker.  Phew.  The genie is out of the bottle, I repeat, the genie is out of the bottle.

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Let me also establish, that this weeks entry into the virtual world of Rachael Hope, is by no means an attempt to preach to you.  I’m no self development Guru!  But these are the kind of life lessons that I wish I’d been privy to sooner.  So maybe someone else out there in the interweb will find them valuable too?

3 Valuable Life Lessons for Over-thinkers

Overthinking as a personality trait isn’t inherently bad.  Overthinking does have its upsides.  Yes really!  For example, I can safely say that I REALLY dive deep into any project I partake in. Complex ideas tend to excite, rather than intimidate me.  Plus I am passionate about hunting down information from the source.

It’s pure and simple, I never rely on hearsay.  Do you get it? Did you get it? Eh? Eh?

But like everything in life, there is a Yin and a Yang element to the art of overthinking.  Stoopid necessary duality!

If you’re an over thinker, you might be a little ‘extra’ with your receptivity levels to that Yin Yang vibe.  You know the story.  That one tiny thought can quickly escalate.  Before you know it, you’ve travelled fifty years into the future and witnessed at least a thousand disastrous scenarios in your head.  All before you’ve even eaten breakfast.  You know us over thinkers, we do what we do, when we do what we do!

Some days the mere thought of leaving the house can propel you into that mental war zone we will fondly refer to as:

‘All those terrifying and inevitable, gut wrenching variables though?!’

I don’t know about you, but I think that name will catch on.  Let’s face it, the short and snappy gimmicks usually do.  Ahem.

Anyway, I’m sure I’m telling you things that as a fellow over-thinker, you already know.  So let’s crack on with them there life lessons that I hope will help you, as much as they have helped me!

Don’t Take Yourself too Seriously

In the grand scheme of things, we are all bit players on the stage of life.  When it boils down to it, life is, well kinda ridiculous.  The potential for clowning around is vast.  I mean even from birth, we are hilarious.  For the first two months of life, we can’t even lift our own heads without help.  On top of that, there is that whole constant pooping yourself thing. Big lols all round.

We are all born into this world in the same way, and heck if we make it to old age, it’s likely we’ll go out the same way we came in.  Constantly pooping ourselves!   Life is too short to be super serious all the time.  Yes, there is obviously a time and a place to ditch the pursuit of hilarity and get serious.  But please, stop worrying about what everyone else thinks constantly and enjoy your minor role in the circus. *Clown Emoji*

Maybe even learn to juggle? Unicycle?

Perfect is a Nonsense Word

I’ve said it once, but damnt I’ll say it again…PERFECT IS A NONSENSE WORD! I’m not saying to completely lower your standards.  Rather,  think of yourself, your latest project, challenge etc. as a high quality work in progress!  This means giving yourself permission to try, and fail.  You don’t have to get everything right the first time around, and you certainly shouldn’t refrain from trying new things because you’re scared of getting it ‘wrong.‘

I have a very recent (like two days ago recent) personal example to share in relation to this.   Remember the game Rounders from the Primary School days?  Sorry International readers, I don’t know your equivalent to this UK sport.

Well, I HATED Rounders at school, mostly because I was a total chunk, who was terrible at sport.  It was the most embarrassing and cringe worthy time!  But you know what, two days ago I took part in a sporting event for work – with strangers might I add. 

One of the sporting activities was Rounders.  I could have squirmed out of it, but I didn’t.  I was willing to try again at something I had previously failed at, and yes I was nervous, and yes I still wasn’t the best on the field.  But for the first time in my life I scored a rounder and my inner fat kid was beaming.

Yer boiiii!!

If I had been too wrapped up in memories of being a childhood fatty and my fear of failing, I would never have participated in a fun activity with new people!

Give yourself permission to fail once in a while!  You may even surprise yourself and score your own rounder.

Like, it’s totally a meta, metaphor.

It’s OK to Take your Time

Did you know that you can actually take your time over most things?  Just because there is this societal pressure to have an instant response to E V E R Y T H I N G, doesn’t mean you have to go with that mentality!

So here is a list of things you are totally allowed to take your time over:

Responding to people’s suggestions or thoughts –  If you don’t know your position on a given topic instantly, don’t be afraid to mull it over for a while!

With your life plan –  So you don’t have the house, partner and 2.5 kids by age 28 like you planned.  That’s fine!  You can take your time to find the right pieces to the puzzle that is your life!

When constructing an idea – I mean, thinking over an idea from every angle is half the fun for the Over-Thinker!

With your personal relationships – You know those people that can be instantly comfortable with anyone and everyone.  Well, one of those personality types I am not.

Don’t get me wrong, I know and love so many people with this personality.  But I have to really analyse someone before they make my BFF list. Once you make the list, heck you’ll be sick of hearing from me.  You don’t have to be instant with your personal relationships.  Take your time and really enjoy cultivating new friendships and relationships and revisiting old ones.

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Over-thinkers, I want your honest opinions.  What did you REALLY (over)think about my life lessons?  Do you have any life lessons that have helped you as an Over-thinker?  Please do share your thoughts in the comments below!

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