Overthinking can be a whale in itself

The image above this article is a symbolic expression: a world with only whales. To me, that captures the nature of my thoughts sometimes, and overthinking can be a whale in itself.

In the last two weeks I’ve learned a few things that help me cope with my whale sized thoughts. I don’t claim to have anything figured out, because anyone that tells you they do is a liar. I only want to share with you what I’ve learned.

Simplicity always serves when too many things fail, and it is the reason why three-chord punk music and minimalist paintings work. It’s way too easy to have information overload, but when we over-think a problem, we stress  and perform poorly.

Take time to relax and look at simple problems instead of trying to tackle the big picture immediately. Convince yourself that the complexities are not as valuable as the simple things. The more complicated you make something, the more prone it is to failing, because the fear of failure is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Love will make you nervous because it is a powerful thing. When you have that power, you have to become love’s servant and not love’s slave.

So be considerate of how you use that power when you have it, and take care in selecting who and what you love. It should be sincere and never feel forced.

When you give love and receive nothing in return, you will only find resentment and inadequacies. Love is natural, so don’t think you can demand love or use force to receive it. You can give love without expecting love in return, but strive to maintain equality and balance, because Karma only works when you are not in debt.

Power is good, but when you use it, you lose a little bit of it.  You should use power to lead rather than force, which is essentially what leadership is.

Because people are best suited for the jobs they love, when you lead, you shouldn’t be a slave to your power, lest you depend on it and become a tyrant.  Instead, become a servant to your followers so you can facilitate their growth and learning.

Your authority is the gift of your diligence, and when you  use your power poorly, you betray respect. It’s better to ask people to do things they might not enjoy because they respect you, rather than force people do things  because you have authority.

Center your thoughts in simplicity, love, and respect, and you will find power over your mind. With that power, a world of whales cannot crush you.