Before we get down to business, please let it be known that I am well aware of the fact that analyzation is a subconscious reflex that takes place in the minds of almost all well-developed people. In fact, I also know that it is one of the very fibers of our being that makes us human. Had we not the ability to take in and scan our everyday lives, the options that we are constantly offered, and the subsequent decisions that we must make in accordance, we would almost certainly be more than a few steps behind the current evolutionary standpoint at which we exist. Keeping all of those critical concepts in mind, I still must admit my steadfast adherence to the belief that I have a serious problem:

I, Amanda Gribbin, overthink absolutely everything.

While this is no personal trait that I am particularly a fan of, it is high time that I recognize things as they truly are. After all, the first step on a road to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. In any event, whether it's what many may consider a split-second decision, or rather an internal conflict over an issue that concerns a grander scheme, you can almost always find my mind analyzing something to a degree that is more than likely not necessary. Simply put, I read into everything way too much, even when I know that the result will only make me feel terribly and unreasonably stressed.

Due to the idea that I do not enjoy this process by any means, I believe that this phenomenon is something that is simply wired into my being, not unlike my hair color or skin pigmentation-- A natural occurrence beyond my control, if you will. I have realized that I simply cannot help myself from overthinking, but ultimately, it has also lead me to discover another important thing about me and my personal character: I care. In other words, I think in copious amounts because things in my life and their overall outcome matter to me.

Although I do not mean to say that others who don't overthink everything don't care, I believe that this is just my personal way of proving that I do. In other words, this is all just a part of my "look before you leap" attitude. Yes, I previously admitted that my overthinking habits are not my favorite personal qualities, but yet I would take them over the idea of throwing caution to the wind on any given day.

In truth, all things that have results that lie within my hands are, in my opinion, worth thinking about carefully. Regardless of the stress that my overthinking may cause me at times, it has also lead me to some of the best decisions and life lessons that I believe may have passed me by without the contemplation that I applied to these various situations. Although some things don't require the amount of thought that I give them, the things that matter certainly do, and in the end, I am thankful for the head that has been placed on my shoulders.