Just Stop

I was challenged.

Or rather - my opinions and thoughts were challenged.

Within the past week I have felt as though my thoughts and opinions have been challenged over and over again. Particularly on relationships and friendships.

People I thought I knew how they would feel on these subjects threw me for a loop, making me want to scream

"WHO ARE YOU?" 

I can't tell you how many times I've had conversations with people and I've stated variations of the phrase:

"I promise you that I'm not crazy!"

Thankfully, there have been several who have reassured me that no, I am not crazy.

But it caused me take a step back and seriously doubt my views.

Have I been wrong all of this time?

Am I really that strange for thinking this way?

According to Meyers Briggs, I am an ENFP. Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving.

Basically, that means I am outgoing, get my energy from people (and I like people), have a wide variety of interests, insightful, strong values, could probably be mistaken for having ADD, talkative, dreamer, strong emotions, and pretty much live in my head.

So when something is shaken up in my life - I tend to dwell on it, and it affects my thoughts, actions, and emotions. I get caught up in everything. Then I talk about it non-stop and think about it some more, which leads me to talk about it again, and then think again... it's a vicious cycle.

When my thoughts were challenged, and pretty intensely challenged, it was as though they were shaken up, thrown about, and upside down.

I thought about it all of the time. I wasn't really sure what I should do next. Heck, I even let my dreams freak me out about it.

There are dangers of living inside of your head sometimes. There are dangers of over-thinking things.

But then - I snap out of it. I hear the opinions of people who have had other experiences than I have and they assure me yet again that no, I am not crazy. Relationships that I thought were in jeopardy actually appear to be just fine.

Sometimes you just need to stop thinking, stop defending yourself, stop arguing your point, stop doubting, and move on.

Original photo source, and I added the words.

There are times we need to talk, analyze, defend, think, and debate.

But then there are other times when the only way you're going to know what you think is to just stop. Then live your life, and you'll figure it out. Because there are times it just works itself out no matter how much you over-think.

And yeah, not everyone will agree.

But that's okay. Not everyone agreed with Jesus either. He never seemed to over-analyze. He simply kept going.

So whatever you are over-thinking (and I'm including myself in this) -

JUST. 

STOP.

You are not crazy.

Move on.

It'll be okay.