One of my anxious tendencies is to overthink everything. I never understood why I would constantly analyze every part of my life, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I am a little bit of a know-it-all. Yes, I'll admit it. I have strong beliefs, and I feel that the reason I overthink so much is because I want to properly defend these beliefs. For the longest time I viewed overthinking as a bad thing, but recently I've started to notice that maybe it isn't that harmful after all...

It slows down my thought process.

As a person who has a trouble managing her impulsiveness, I found overthinking to be a useful tool in slowing down my thought process. Instead of making irrational decisions, I am more cautious of how my actions will impact others; which overall helps betters my behavior. I weigh all my options, and make sure that whatever I am deciding to do is what is right for me.

I feel the urge to constantly educate myself on a given topic.

Maye overthinking can spur illogical thought, but I find it to be motivation to stay educated. I like to follow current-events and research things because it allows me to properly "overthink." I know it sounds crazy. But, knowing as much information as possible allows me to dive into every possible scenario of a situation. Now I don't mean to use research as an excuse for obsessive overthinking, but I do believe it can be beneficial in some cases. Meticulously weighing pro's and con's requires a lot of effort, and having extra knowledge helps make this process slightly more bearable.

I believe in my decisions more whole-heartedly.

Since I invest so much time into making important decisions, I am more confidence in my decisions. The fact that I invest so much time into my thought process is comforting. I know that I am making sure I am

At least I'm thinking!

While overthinking is easily associated with anxiety, it also displays a genuine sense of attentiveness. I think too many people discredit the amount of effort it takes to "overthink" something. Society has entered a downward spiral in which we "act without thinking." Rather than encourage this kind of behavior, we should promote more research and intellectual discussion instead.

So while there are many consequences to overthinking, it is important to recognize its benefits. Just because you overthink does not make you crazy, indecisive, or annoying. It's normal. In the long run, investing more time in your thought process is a good thing. Don't think too much into it.