Overthinker.
What could you be thinking about right now that actually adds more than it takes away?
My heart started racing, and the hand holding my phone began to shake. I honestly don’t even remember which text set it off this time… there have been too many. And I can’t even tell you they’ve all been about work or anything important, because my overthinking — especially when it comes to people or situations that trigger insecurity — covers everything.
Did I say it right? Did I sound arrogant, stupid, desperate, not interested enough? Was I kind? Did I not say enough? Did I say too much? Did I overdo it? Did I mess it up? DID I F&%K UP?
Then come those endless minutes of silence… or worse, those little dots that go up and down when someone’s replying… then disappear… then come back… and then nothing.
In those moments — minutes… hours — my creativity goes wild. I come up with more stories than Walt Disney… except none of them are fairytales. They all feel more like drama/horror movies.
And it doesn’t stop there. It’s not just texts. It happens with conversations, interactions… and yes, posts or anything I put out on social media. It’s exhausting — that feeling of being under a microscope… examined, judged.
But you know what’s even worse? Most of the time, nobody cares. The microscope, the drama, the judgment, the contradictions… they’re all home-made. Built right here, in this hyperactive nerve center I carry on my shoulders.
The truth is, most people who actually matter have their own lives, their own concerns. They’re not paying that much attention. And if they do look, they’re usually caught up in whatever they’ve got going on — they flip the page, skip the chapter altogether. People don’t form an opinion about you based on one line. They’re not dissecting your words like a frog in biology class. There’s history, context… and unless you’re asking them for something huge — like one of their kids or lifelong financial support — one message isn’t going to change how they see you.
Now, I’m not gaslighting you… YES, in today’s world the critics are loud. People with too much time, not enough going on, self-appointed judges of truth and morality who think they’re here to educate everyone else, correct you, tell you how to live. They will zoom in on every word. And yeah, that stings. (Honestly… look at where it’s coming from.)
But that’s not the point today. Today is about overthinking.
In moments like these, the experts — therapists, coaches, and yes, even a quick ChatGPT search — will tell you to change rooms, change topics, play music, go for a walk. Ask yourself if it’s worth it… or more importantly, if it’s worth you. Your time. Your energy. Your peace.
You can also hit pause. Tell yourself you’ll come back to it tomorrow, same time (in most cases… you won’t even pick it back up).
And here’s something new I’ve heard a few times recently: if you feel yourself spiraling… going down that tunnel… stuck in a loop you don’t like… step away and run cold water over your wrists. It actually interrupts the pattern. I’ve tried it — it works.
And finally, what’s helping me most right now: I have new projects, a list of dreams, goals I want to reach, and amazing people I haven’t given enough priority to — people I LOVE who deserve my attention way more than some made-up crisis in my head.
So I ask myself:
what could you be thinking about right now that actually adds more than it takes away?
That’s the place this story is coming from. You guys are worth my thoughts, my effort, my time.
Arriba corazones!
- Cristina