I realized today that I’ve let myself fall into that horrible trap of overthinking things. Which came while I was, uh, thinking.
Found on WickedYing.com
In all honesty, I had no intentions of updating my blog today. I’m home sick (fever, chills, nausea and overall blech), but after a day full of work that involved lots and lots of moving parts and engaging people and hoping we can make deadlines, I started thinking about all the thinking I’ve been doing lately. Oh, that’s not to say there’s not any reacting going on. It’s there, and in full force, but the thinking is what’s making me a leeeeetle insane.
Maybe it’s my fever-addled brain, but as I was finishing up another conference call and trying to think about my book and how much writing hasn’t happened in the past week and how crappy I was feeling, I had one of those AHA moments where something clicked.
I’ve been overanalyzing.
See, I’m often a seat-of-your-pants person. I go with the flow and yeah, while I can plan with the best of them, I’m at my most comfortable when I handle situations as they occur. Which hasn’t made its way into my writing for the past five or six days.
For me, this is not good. I’ve let my brain take over for my creativity and emotion, and let logic dictate what’s good or bad, and what should be written or what should not even make it to the page. In the end, that kills storytelling. So, I’ve made the decision to let everything go and just GO. I’ll let my Right Brain have fun, let loose with my story, and probably end up with something a whole lot better that way.
My Zen by iCekRiMe
Sorta like a zen habit — focus on the present and enjoy it. Because once you start thinking about what has to be or what should be, you miss out on all the really great stuff in your day. And, in my case, in my storytelling.
Hmm. I’ve never written while I had a fever. Maybe I should give that a try, even if only for fifteen minutes. I just might surprise myself with something really good.
If I can understand it in the morning.
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Terri Herman-Ponce 
Wow…I needed to hear that “write now.” Sorry that you’re sick, but grateful that you decided to post on your blog today. Thanks!
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Happy I could be of help. 🙂
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Feel better. Enjoyed your post, and so totally relate! Must get back to writing without worrying, which is the genre of thinking I do best!
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Well I wrote this morning without worry or thinking. Some of it’s crap but I needed to do it to break out of my rut.
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In writing, I have to over-think… I love planning and laying it all out there, because I actually find it hard to write and think at the same time (that sounds weird!). But I am so with you in everything else – over-thinking, over-analysing is what makes a lot of us so stressed and unhappy. Of course then I want to punch cute little motivational inforgraphics that say stuff like “How to be happy: stop over-thinking.” Like it was a switch you could just turn off.
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If only switching it off were easy or more possible! Thanks for stopping by!
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Terry, what a great post. I think we are all guilty of over thinking…placing so much pressure on ourselves, our poor minds stop functioning. If I ever discover a way to stop doing that, I’ll pass it along. In the meantime, please take care of yourself. Make yourself a nice cup of tea and relax.
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Thanks Nancy. For the kind words an for offering to share your discovery when you figure out how not to over think.
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Sometimes overthinking is good, as in bouncing alternate scenarios over and over in your head. It can make for better plotting. And… swift recovery!
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Got a point. I do love bouncing around different scenarios — and recovery. 🙂
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I’ve done some of my best writing while under the influence of NyQuil…and cocktails. (Not together, mind you!) Nice post, Terri!
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LOL — the things writers do to make readers happy!
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Terry, cute… overthinking while you were thinking. I hope you feel better!
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Thank you! I’m trying to get there.
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