#84 Overthinking was not a weakness

Today, the tabs have increased again.

I tried to organize my thoughts.

I write them down, line them up, and think, "Okay, that's clear."

But before I know it, another tab is open.

While working, I'm thinking about something else in my head.

While talking to someone, a different question arises in the background.

For every bit I organize, something new is born.

It's as if browser tabs keep multiplying no matter how many I close.

Is that really a problem?

At first, I thought, "I have to fix this."

Distracted. Unable to focus. Proof that I'm not moving forward.

There was a time when I blamed myself like that.

But then, I thought this.

The fact that tabs increase just means there are that many things I care about.

The "weakness" of overthinking

To be honest, there are certainly times when overthinking causes trouble.

• Decision-making becomes slow

• It's tiring

• Being asked, "So, what do you want to do in the end?"

This is a weakness. I won't deny it.

But is that really all there is to a weakness?

The "strength" of overthinking

People who overthink notice more things than others.

• Reading between the lines of what others say

• Never letting go of the "why?"

• Extracting multiple meanings from a single event

Come to think of it, the reason I've been able to keep up this note is because I overthink.

I don't let go of the slight sense of discomfort in my daily life, wondering, "What is this?"

That becomes an article.

"Getting it all out" might be more important than organizing

When I try to organize my thoughts, it becomes painful somehow.

"I have to summarize it neatly," "I have to come up with an answer."

That pressure creates yet another kind of fatigue.

But now, I think this.

Before organizing, getting it all out might be more important.

It doesn't have to be neat. It doesn't have to be organized.

Just get it out. That alone makes my head feel a little lighter.

This note exists for that purpose, too.

Trying to affirm the overthinking self

There was a time when I tried to fix my overthinking.

But lately, I've come to accept that this is who I am.

Having many tabs open just means you see the world as a wider place.

Getting tired just means you are engaging with things seriously.

Weaknesses and strengths are two sides of the same coin.

Overthinking is both a weakness and a strength.

What matters, I believe, is not hating it, but choosing how to live with it.

Finally, a question for you.

Is there a trait of yours that you've convinced yourself is a weakness?

Is it really just a weakness?

When you change your perspective, might there be the seeds of a strength hidden there?

I want to affirm my overthinking self just a little bit more.