What if we ruin it for ourselves before it even starts?
As I imagine many of you can relate, my specialty is overthinking. I am capable of spending several minutes, which turn into days, into weeks. If the thoughts are obsessive enough, it has the possibility of turning into years, thinking about the same thing over and over again. After so much time has passed, you would think it wouldn't be possible to keep having the same recurring thoughts. But my mind is skilled at creating new scenarios or imagining what could be or could have been. Because, regardless of how much we are told not to, due to the fact that it leads to some form of damage, we always wonder about the forbidden thought: "what if."
With this simple phrase, we doom ourselves to endless and repetitive thoughts.
It's so easy to get wrapped up in the unknown because regardless of what happens, of the endless endings we make up, it's still not a reality. Therefore, we are able to shelter ourselves from the truth and what is happening or what has happened in the real world. It's nothing more than a coping mechanism.
Trust me. It is so easy to get caught up in the "what ifs." But at the end of the day, it remains just that, a "what if." A simple thought that we constantly obsess over because we can't seem to accept what's in front of us for what it is. I, myself, like to live in a fantasy world because it keeps me from getting hurt. In this day and age, we try everything in our power to try to remain impenetrable. So, we build walls so high and thick that nothing can penetrate through. We keep the ones we love and hope to love at arm's length because, in some way or another, we were taught to protect ourselves at all costs. Protecting yourself keeps you from getting hurt. It's that simple.
But more than that, it keeps you from living. The interesting thing about a "what if" is that, like everything in life, there are two sides to it. There's the one where you only seem to find the worst outcomes, in hopes of protecting yourself from inevitable hurt. (Which so happens to be the one everyone, including myself, opts for.) Or, there's the "what if" where everything actually works out. (Can you even imagine that?!)
Yet, we are so scared of getting hurt that we are willing to give something up before it even starts. Why do we restrict ourselves from living and experiencing every little thing? We are so quick to remove ourselves from instances and situations simply to shelter us from the pain that accompanies an end to whatever our situation is.
But, hear me out…what if everything works out? What if we allow ourselves to go through the motions of life and simply live? Nothing is set in stone. Not everything is meant to end, especially not the way we imagine them to.
Frankly, it is impossible to stop overthinking, especially about something that is important to you. But, it's not impossible to have a switch in mindset. It's not easy, but it's not impossible. You have to understand that mindset is the key to everything. It sounds cheesy and corny, but, this fact still remains true.
Next time you wonder, "what if it doesn't work out," you should ponder, "what if it does."
I would love to hear your thought process or any stories of scenarios you have created relating to an “what if.” Share it with the anD, the words community! Tag us in a tweet, comment on our Instagram, or comment down below!
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