Think like an ape

I am guilty of overthinking.  A lot.

I over-think (overthink, over think?) to the point where I can barely function as a normal mammal.  I can rarely feel emotions without analyzing them.  Unfortunately, this usually results in me discrediting any of my emotions (whether positive or negative) and leaves me feeling empty.

This is just ridiculous.  I bash 18th century Western neoclassicists for branding the human race (or as they saw the human race) as superior, utmost rational beings.

It’s just not true.  The only time we are ever analytical, strategic, and logical is when we need to be.  When we have a specific problem to solve, sometimes with the collaboration of others.  When it deals with other people, we need to keep our biases in check.  When we write an analytical research paper, make a persuasive argument, or solve a complex physics or calculus problem.

At any other time of day, we are as illogical and emotional as any cult fanatic, bird, 5-year old, or an insane asylum patient.  We make assumptions based on superficial evidence, act on schemas that may or may not be true, jump to conclusions, and utilize logical fallacies on a daily basis.  We have to.  Our brain does not have the energy to qualify every bit of information that we receive on a given day.  It is necessary for survival.  If you were mugged at knife point the one time you ventured by yourself in a dark alleyway, you probably would avoid doing so again.  You might even conclude that a criminal with a knife only mugs people in that particular alleyway.  Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, you are better off avoiding it all together.

And in addition to survival, it is probably better for mental health.  Accept your emotions/feelings for what they are and don’t justify them.  Have you ever been in a situation where, for some reason, you couldn’t stand someone that was friends with your other friends (even though they’re alright.)  Did you feel guilty and try to make yourself like that person?  Well, don’t!  You don’t have to like everyone in the world.  The new trendy thing is to respect your own feelings and know that they are inherently justified, because there is a reason they are occurring.

In other words, let yourself be emotional sometimes.  Concentrate your brainpower on your best work, but accept that you are also irrational and not so smart.  Be instinctive.  Feel free at times to regress to a less evolved level of thinking.