Part 1: Thought full!
Overthinking v deep thinking
So why do we think so much? I know that I can replay conversations, past events, problems and scenarios over and over in my head. If there was an off button to turn my thoughts off once in a while, I would gladly press it for some peace. I often think (oh the irony), what are the point of all these thoughts? They can be about events that have already happened or those yet to happen. Sometimes it would be easier to drown them out with a film, the radio, a podcast or a conversation. However, they will just reappear at a later date when I am doing the washing up or having an idle moment. It’s interesting to wonder whether being overloaded with thoughts is something which affects every human being or only certain individuals.
So how would you distinguish between overthinking and say “deep thinking”? Well from my own experience, overthinking can in some instances serve a limited purpose and in extreme cases lead to anxiety and excessive worry. Inventing scenarios in your head which may never happen and reliving difficult past events can result in torturing or punishing yourself with no actual solution. Deep thinking, however, is when you can look into a problem, an event, a state of affairs with a critical eye and from many different perspectives with more of a positive than negative impact. We have had many great deep thinkers in this world throughout history e.g. Aristotle, Plato, Albert Einstein, Carl Jung, Freud etc. So would ruminating over things at excessive length cause mental distress to these great thinkers? Well it is quite possible and something I would certainly like to explore further. However, many of their “deep thoughts” have helped society evolve and come up with new ways of tackling problems and seeing the world.
I would class myself as a deep thinker, prone to overthinking at times. I absolutely love going deep into my inner world and questioning all sorts of things about humanity. Why do we live the way we do? What brought us here? Are we on a mission or just tourists? Why is there so much evil in the world? I share some of these thoughts and experiences in the hope that some of them will resonate with and inspire others. In the same way that I can be inspired by other people! If you recognise yourself as a deep thinker, you may be someone who spends a decent amount of time alone because perhaps like me you need the quiet and silence to let the thoughts flow freely and naturally. Our world can be a very noisy and busy place with hectic work lives, media and constant distractions and entertainment.
What are “your” thoughts?
So how would you know what your own thoughts are and what thoughts originate from society, the media, education, parents, friends etc? How would we ever know when we have spent our entire lives absorbing knowledge and information from other people? With the invention of the internet and social media, this has allowed people’s thoughts to be shared worldwide. However, other people’s thoughts can drown out our own thoughts. We have been conditioned to behave and think in a certain way according to society’s rules. Although I feel Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist, was right in this quote:
“Thinking is difficult. Therefore, let the herd pronounce judgement.”
— Carl Jung, Flying Saucers: A Modern Myth of Things Seen in the Sky.
In my interpretation, he means that independent and critical thought is difficult, often challenged and it is sometimes easier to go along with the herd and take on other’s views, opinions and judgements as your own. So how does this notion translate into everyday life? Well it can be seen in politics and with which political parties and leaders we place our allegiance. Many people can make assumptions and come to conclusions based on what the majority are saying or what the majority of news or media outlets are telling them. This could be based on the notion that “if most people think this or are saying this, it must be true”. Thoughts and opinions are indeed very subjective and without knowing the full story and the characters involved personally, we can only make judgements based on what evidence is presented to us. I, not necessarily being one to follow the crowd, personally like to also hear what the lone “crazy” person has to say or the minority group who keep being silenced and censored. It’s not easy to go against the mainstream view with your opinions and take the unpopular stance when you can be subject to ridicule or victimisation.
Celebrating “individuality” and “freedom of thought”
If anyone goes “against the rules”, they can be seen as a troublemaker or disruptive. For example, if a child misbehaves at school and is unable to concentrate, then rather than dismissing them and saying they are not of value to society, we could celebrate their true nature as free-thinkers and creative beings unable to conform to a rigid education system. Look at Albert Einstein, the German-born theoretical physicist, one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century. He was seen by his school teacher as not amounting to anything. See the quote below. There is hope for us all!
So of what value is putting young children in a school uniform from four or five years of age, and putting them through a rigorous education and testing system? I appreciate that it is human nature to form tribes and the social interaction is good but where is the individuality if everyone follows the same system to get the right grades and progress in society?
I believe that freedom of thought should be celebrated. In today’s society we are bombarded with 24/7 entertainment, media, games, shopping etc. When is there the time and space to think? We could do well to get away from these distractions if we can and just let our minds wander. Daydream even. Enjoy what the mind can create. Draw it, write about it, sing about it. Everyone born on this planet could have the next idea or thought to help change the world. There are no limits to the capacity and capability of the human mind and spirit if we remain open to it and choose to believe.
Happy thinking!
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Image 1: Pink questioning brain. Credit: wowomnom: Shutterstock (edited)
Image 2: Thinking man statue illustration Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker. Credit: Hilmi Abedillah: Shutterstock