Oh, the irony. Here I am, about to write 3,000 words about whether we’re overthinking ourselves, while you, dear reader, have clicked on this with a mixture of curiosity and maybe a dash of existential dread. Because let’s be real: if you’re asking the question “Are we overthinking ourselves?” you’re already doing the thing. It’s like asking, “Am I breathing too much?” Congratulations, you’ve just triggered a mental loop you’ll never escape.
The Cult of Overthinking
We live in an age where thinking is marketed as a lifestyle. “Mindfulness” has been commercialized to death—there’s an app to tell you when to breathe, a meditation course for your cat, and overpriced teas that promise to silence your brain. Yet somehow, our minds have never been louder.
Why? Because society told us that to be better humans, we need to constantly analyze our feelings, question our choices, dissect our traumas, optimize our productivity, and map out our five-year plans like we’re trying to invade Normandy. You can’t just enjoy a sunset anymore; you have to capture it, filter it, and write a 300-word caption about how it represents your growth arc since 2018.
And don’t even get me started on therapy culture. Look, therapy is great—everyone could use some—but TikTok has convinced an entire generation that every mildly annoying coworker is a narcissist, every breakup is “trauma,” and if you’re not journaling your every thought, you’re repressing something that will explode later. Spoiler: not every thought deserves a Pulitzer Prize.
When Did Thinking Become a Full-Time Job?
Overthinking has become our unpaid side hustle. We replay conversations like we’re directors editing a film, tweaking every line to make ourselves look smarter or less awkward. We think about what we said, what we should have said, what we’ll say next time (because obviously there will be a “next time” where you finally deliver that sick burn you thought of three days later).
Remember when we used to just…do things? You liked someone, you called them. Now, it’s a 12-step process involving ghosting theories, attachment style TikToks, and at least three friends weighing in with “just wait for them to text first.” We’ve overthought romance to the point where dating apps feel like job interviews where no one actually wants the job.
Even decisions as simple as “what should I eat for dinner?” have turned into ethical dilemmas. Do I order the burger I want or the salad my future self will thank me for? Will this choice affect my gut microbiome? Is it locally sourced? Oh God, is this how I get cancer? By the time you’ve finished spiraling, Uber Eats has already eaten your soul with its $7 delivery fee.
The Self-Help Industrial Complex
Enter the self-help industry, the ultimate gaslighter. It tells you, “You’re perfect the way you are… but here are 12 books, 4 seminars, and a $499 course to fix yourself.” The message is clear: you’re a mess, but with the right mindset hacks and manifestation rituals, you can become a glowing beacon of productivity and inner peace.
The problem is, self-help doesn’t help you stop thinking—it helps you think more. Now you’re not just worried about your problems, you’re worried about whether you’re “approaching your problems with the right growth mindset.” You’re not just living life; you’re auditing it like an IRS agent with anxiety.
Analysis Paralysis: The Netflix of Our Brains
Overthinking doesn’t just ruin our peace of mind; it ruins our decisions. Psychologists call it “analysis paralysis,” but it’s basically your brain buffering like a 2005 YouTube video. You scroll through Netflix for an hour and then end up re-watching The Office for the 47th time because the weight of choosing something new was too much.
Life choices are no different. Career moves, relationships, where to live—every option comes with an Excel sheet of pros and cons, followed by a spiral of “what if” scenarios that make you feel like you’re writing Black Mirror. And because we fear making the wrong choice, we make no choice. Congrats, you’ve just overthought yourself into a stalemate.
The Paradox of Self-Awareness
Here’s the kicker: self-awareness, the thing we’re told is the key to happiness, is also the gateway drug to overthinking. A little self-awareness is healthy; too much, and you start narrating your life like you’re the main character in a tragic indie film. You begin to question your every move: Am I authentic enough? Am I too authentic? Am I the villain in someone else’s story?
This is where overthinking turns toxic. Instead of living, you’re stuck in a mental observation deck, critiquing every action like a snarky Yelp review. You’re not experiencing life; you’re reviewing it, and guess what? You’re giving it two stars.
Social Media: The Gasoline on the Fire
Of course, none of this is helped by social media, the giant echo chamber that thrives on comparison. You can’t just live; you have to curate. Every post is a thesis on who you are, every like a validation, every comment an invitation to overanalyze.
Social media has made us so hyper-aware of ourselves that we’ve become our own paparazzi. Instead of asking, “Do I like this?” we ask, “How will this look?” Even authenticity is performative now—hashtag #nofilter (but obviously there’s a filter).
The Freedom of Not Caring (As Much)
So, are we overthinking ourselves? Yes. Absolutely. But the better question is: can we stop?
Probably not entirely. Thinking is part of being human, and self-reflection is necessary for growth. But we could all use a little less obsessing. Maybe the secret isn’t to stop thinking, but to stop thinking about thinking.
Here’s a radical idea: sometimes “good enough” is good enough. Eat the burger without writing an essay about your food choices. Text the person without consulting your group chat. Wear the outfit without a three-hour debate about whether it “fits your vibe.”
Final Thought (Yes, Just One)
Life is messy, and so are we. Overthinking might make us feel in control, but it’s really just fear wearing a lab coat, pretending to be logical. The truth is, we’ll never have all the answers, and that’s fine. Stop spiraling, stop auditing every breath, and for God’s sake, stop asking your brain to be a life coach.
Because the best moments in life? They’re the ones you didn’t think to death.