Less is more.
It is easy to think that more is better. But as we have seen with food, that is not the case.
Overeating anything can become unhealthy. Obsessive or excessive thinking leads to a state not dissimilar to obesity. It slows us down, makes everything more of a drain, inhibits our confidence, and blocks us from activities. A balanced mental diet is just as important as a physical one.
Developing Survival strategies
As a kid, I grew up in a house where my Dad dominated the conversation, and people had to push and fight to be heard. He respected an analytical mind, so I was encouraged to grow in this capacity. So, my thinking was the unquestioned way to improve life to get noticed, which seemed essential for survival.
Where is peace?
I was under the deluded idea that if I thought enough and analysed endlessly, I would find the answer to feeling safe and ultimately be at peace. But we do not find peace by thinking and thinking and thinking. Though we all know eating is essential, we would know eating endlessly is not the answer to well-being. Thinking can be a strength, a tool just like any other, but the imbalance comes when we believe ‘thinking’ is the answer and that the more time we spend in this state, the easier our life will be.
More than one way
My ability to think has given me a lot, and I am grateful for this capacity, but our gifts can also be our challenge. What has ‘enabled’ in the past is often not going to create what we need for the present or future. The clothes I wore at age 5 were great, but if, I tried to wear them now, I would feel restricted, uncomfortable, embarrassed, and distanced from others etc. The capacity to change and adapt according to life is imperative. My thinking was an adaptive behaviour, but as it became overused, it began to dwarf other capacities within me. Reliance on the mind as the sole solution to all problems can limit our ability to access and explore intuition to find answers and be guided.
Use it or lose it
Accessing intuition is often in competition with our mind rather than a tool that speeds up the process and increases the likelihood of success. Most of us learn from an early age that our voice is more respected the more we can give evidence and justify our thoughts and actions. However, that blocks us from a knowing (intuition) that operates faster and more accurately than our conscious analytical mind ever can. It is a skill generally trained out of us from a young age, yet can be developed at any age. As with all skills, practice strengthens capacity.
Be encouraged to dare to believe that this support is within you. Just like a seed, it will grow when you give it attention.