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"The only reliable cure for overthinking seems to be enjoyment, something that both success and analysis can dull." This point at the end seems a bit forced wit

by orky56 6y ago

"The only reliable cure for overthinking seems to be enjoyment, something that both success and analysis can dull." This point at the end seems a bit forced without any support beyond the author's assertion. The feeling I get is someone who has mastered this unthinking is "enlightened" of sorts with an ability to get to satisfaction with a humility that can be mistaken for smugness. From fiction, I might refer to the Wheel of Time series where Rand Al'Thor uses a trick to "find the void" in a way his father taught him. When you get overwhelmed from information and emotions, finding the void allows you to regain composure and think straight again.

chrisweekly 6y ago
aka meditation
- orky56 6y ago
  Not exactly. Meditation is a solitary activity where one can train the mind to emptiness. What the article and I'm referring to is getting to that state while still being in the moment. Meditation might be the ability to sharpen the sword but this is about being able to use it in battle.
  - chrisweekly 6y ago
    Upvoted; I like your analogy. IMHO (and IME as a daily practitioner of zazen meditation), mindfulness is entirely about being in the present moment. Ideally, you simply stay there all the time at which point the "sword" is already sharp and always swinging, whether there's a "battle" or not. (shrug)
    - orky56 6y ago
      Good point regarding mindfulness. I'd say we differ on this topic or at least your explanation in its relevance. Mindfulness is about being present and you could argue fully absorbing yourself in it. This can be debilitating in the moment if you want to truly understand a bitter taste or a painful feeling. I think the article and being in battle is about being resilient and coming to terms with the situation. Mindfulness provides an appreciation and empathy for it but does not directly allow you to transcend it in adverse situations. Just my opinion.
    - chrisweekly 6y ago
      Too late to edit my comment, but on 2nd thought I'd prefer to pivot from the violent connotations of swinging a sword to something more peaceful. Armor might be a closer metaphor... but that implies a closing-off from the world which is the opposite of what mindfulness brings. So I'll give up on the tortured metaphors here for now. :)
Layke1123 6y ago
What if you enjoy overthinking though? What if that is your relaxation, is to be incredibly consumed in thought and solving new and intricate problems versus the dull existence of just "being"?

by orky56 6y ago

chrisweekly 6y ago

aka meditation

orky56 6y ago
Not exactly. Meditation is a solitary activity where one can train the mind to emptiness. What the article and I'm referring to is getting to that state while still being in the moment. Meditation might be the ability to sharpen the sword but this is about being able to use it in battle.
- chrisweekly 6y ago
  Upvoted; I like your analogy. IMHO (and IME as a daily practitioner of zazen meditation), mindfulness is entirely about being in the present moment. Ideally, you simply stay there all the time at which point the "sword" is already sharp and always swinging, whether there's a "battle" or not. (shrug)
  - orky56 6y ago
    Good point regarding mindfulness. I'd say we differ on this topic or at least your explanation in its relevance. Mindfulness is about being present and you could argue fully absorbing yourself in it. This can be debilitating in the moment if you want to truly understand a bitter taste or a painful feeling. I think the article and being in battle is about being resilient and coming to terms with the situation. Mindfulness provides an appreciation and empathy for it but does not directly allow you to transcend it in adverse situations. Just my opinion.
  - chrisweekly 6y ago
    Too late to edit my comment, but on 2nd thought I'd prefer to pivot from the violent connotations of swinging a sword to something more peaceful. Armor might be a closer metaphor... but that implies a closing-off from the world which is the opposite of what mindfulness brings. So I'll give up on the tortured metaphors here for now. :)

Layke1123 6y ago

What if you enjoy overthinking though? What if that is your relaxation, is to be incredibly consumed in thought and solving new and intricate problems versus the dull existence of just "being"?