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Posted: 08/06/2015 23:37 IST Updated: 09/06/2015 02:29 IST

12 Things Only Over-ThinkersUnderstand

By Laura Lifshitz for YourTango

There you are about to do something when... wait. Should you really do that, orperhaps something else?

Is this you: standing in the middle of the supermarket trying to debate over somethingas frivolous as a box of rice? If you answered yes, congratulations! You are an over-thinker.

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1. We constantly hear, "Just choose already!"

If you're an over-thinker, you've heard that phrase a zillion times. People act like it'soh-so-easy to just make a choice. And sure, sometimes it's easy; for instance, wouldyou prefer Brad Pitt or your husband?

Easy choice, but when you're an over-thinker, you know that making a choice istorture, plain and simple.

2. We can't sleep at night if we make "wrong" choices.

Oh, it's damn vital to choose the right shampoo, cookie, parking spot, boyfriend,girlfriend, or pair of socks. Every choice feels vital. Something major could happen ifyou buy the wrong pair of gym shorts, you know?

Actually, nothing will happen if you buy the supposedly wrong pair of gym shorts,except you will obsess over whether or not you bought the right pair.

3. We don't consider our decision-making a black and whiteissue.

Nothing is that cut and dry. There are always options in the world, and an over-thinker is able to see the whole spectrum of possibilities. Too many people view over-thinking as a nuisance, when the reality is that it's also a blessing.

We see numerous possibilities, rather than one lame solution or option.

4. We are the go-to person for advice.

An over-thinker is never surprised when someone asks us for our advice. We knowwhy people come to us with their love life squabbles and family drama -- because wewill dissect the situation and put any and all possible spins on the matter.

And people love this. It makes them feel very important as we, the over-thinkers, sitand ponder their dilemmas. It also helps them see aspects they weren't open to seeingon their own. An over-thinker is a valuable asset as a friend.

5. We prefer others choose for us.

An over-thinker knows why the phrase, "Why don't you pick?" is not just helpful, it'ssoul saving. Sometimes, we want someone else to pick so we don't have to jog throughour mental index (which, by the way, is completely exhausting).

We rejoice when someone makes the final call over something as trivial as dinnerplans.

6. We make "big" decisions much easier.

Oddly enough, the over-thinker could ponder the depths over what Blue Ray player tobuy, yet in two seconds flat, decide to leave their job and go for a totally new career. Istruggled with finding a video monitor when my child was a baby, but I had noproblems when deciding to go back to college after a five-year absence.

Big decisions are exciting and powerful, but little decisions feel mind-numbing andmake over-thinkers anxious.

7. We regret, regret, regret.

Of course, after we make that big decision and we're in the middle of our new lifeplan, we will sit and debate in our brains, deciding if we were rashly impulsive or if wemade a smart choice. Sometimes, we will feel deep regret and doubt our instincts.

8. We always need back-up reasoning.

Only an over-thinker understands why, even when something awesome happens, welike to sit there and wonder how it happened to us, if it will happen again, and if wedeserved it.

We can get ourselves all dressed and pretty to celebrate a big major event forourselves, but inside the over-thinker's mind is this little question: "Do I deservethis?"

9. We always have an ongoing battle raging in our minds.

Our instinct is there. Trust me, we heard this the first time we consulted our brain ona matter. The problem is that our worries tend to box out our sanity, and suddenly, it'sa battle of choices in our brain.

10. We know our behavior is annoying.

We know it's annoying when we can't decide which storage system to buy or whatflavor ice cream to choose, but we can't help it. In fact, sometimes when other folksjust make a choice easily, we silently wish we could be like that.

Okay, so sometimes when you just up and choose that beer or those pair of shoes, ourbrain is silently saying, "Bad choice, girlfriend. If only you were more discerning."

11. We know the value of not being rash.

Many a time, our over-thinking saved us from wearing that tacky shirt or saying yes tothat freaky guy who would've been an absolute nightmare to deal with.

Don't look down your nose at the over-thinker, because one day you'll be crying overthat little choice you made, and we will be the only one holding your hand and saying,"We know what that feels like."

12. We really don't want salespeople showing us "moreoptions."

When salespeople say, "There are many options," we want to kill them instantly.Really? More options? We were in a tizzy over the first three you bought.

Salesy salespeople make us cringe. We dodge them like the plague. They come to uswith their "options" and their "opinions," but we just don't want any of it. We don'tneed any more distractions in our own little mind theater, thanks.

This article originally appeared on YourTango(http://www.yourtango.com/2015275808/12-things-only-over-thinkers-understand).

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Add a comment 578 comments

Christina WardAt first I thought this article was totally about me, but then I read it and realized it wasn't.But I wasn't completely sure so I had to re-read it just to be sure it wasn't about me.Turns out it was. I think, maybe I should read it one last time.Reply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 9:38am

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Cayley KirkpatrickLiterally made me laugh out loud! :)Reply · Like · · June 9 at 11:17am8

Tracey Jane ClarkLol!Reply · Like · June 9 at 10:20pm

Kelly Lynn Ferris · Office Lady Extraordinaire at WYDOTThis is a genius commentReply · Like · · June 9 at 11:27pm4

Mitchie Gingras · The University of ArizonaI'm overthinking this article.Reply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 8:53am

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Claudia Preciado · Independent Sales Representative at AvonLolReply · Like · · June 9 at 9:12am4

Diana Woods · Top Commenter · Westminster High SchoolI'm overthinking the headline. :pReply · Like · · June 9 at 10:20am6

Aka Jobava · · Top Commenter · Oslo, Norway · 131 followersI'm overthinking your commentReply · Like · · June 9 at 11:53am

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6

Antonio Martínez Lomelí · Top CommenterI will read three other articles on the topic to make sure all bases are covered and thendecide which is the most accurate and if this one was really worth reading.Reply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 9:01am

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Diana Woods · Top Commenter · Westminster High SchoolWill you please get back to us on that as soon as possible. I have a life to getback to.....Reply · Like · · June 9 at 10:21am5

Terry Clayton · Jupiter, FloridaThis is a great response - I think! But I'll reserve judgment until I read thoseother articles and check their comments!Reply · Like · · June 9 at 10:48am6

Cayley KirkpatrickSo much Yes to this! ;)Reply · Like · June 9 at 11:13am

Carolyn Cerf Karnes · Top CommenterPicking out birthday cards. Or any cards. Freakin torture!Reply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 9:11am61

Rob Lowe · Works at Propex Operating Company, LLCI stopped getting cards altogether for this reason and now just call people

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I stopped getting cards altogether for this reason and now just call peopleinstead. Huge reliefReply · Like · · June 9 at 9:23am1

Kevin Barber · East Gaston Highfor that reason I like to buy cards in different languages. ones I have no ideaof or the recipient. Asian characters are beautiful. either way, it doesn't evenmatter for what reason the card was intendedReply · Like · · June 9 at 9:46am2

Jill S. Ancona NosedaAmen! I buy a trinket or a box of candy and say, "this is instead of wastingmoney on a card!"Reply · Like · · June 9 at 9:49am3

Heather Hartfield · The scary truth. It is impossible to turn it off, so we don't sleep...the thoughts rattle aboutin our brains all night. We "wake" up still unclear and asking and thinking of morequestions and possibilities. #itneverendsReply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 9:22am

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Kenny Wayne Bailey · · Works at MPCI dont want sales people showing me anything period.Reply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 9:30am

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Allison FalconAmen. Avoid. Like. The. Plague.Reply · Like · · June 9 at 6:20pm2

Destiny Miles · · Top Commenter · Assistant Manager at FootLockerAt my store we will get in a lot of trouble if we don't. Customers don't realize,but they get us in trouble when they say "just looking" and walk away. We aresupposed to follow and talk to you.Reply · Like · 10 hours ago

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Jennifer Johnson ChanceyWe have an ongoing battle raging in our minds.....yep! Couldn't describe it any better!Reply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 9:02am10

Sherri Swift · Health Coach at HealthwaysThis is so accurate!Reply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 4:10am8

David King · Louisburg HighTook me a while to figure out if I wanted to read this or not.Reply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 8:55am8

Marcia Toon Bishop · · Louisville, KentuckyI'm trying to decide...Reply · Like · · June 9 at 8:58am

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Robert Schneider · Top Commenter · Florida State Universityare you sure there are only 12? there must be more, right? who has data on more? ineed to research this a bit.Reply · Like · · Follow Post · June 9 at 9:03am5

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