I guess situations and conditions are what makes us realise our inherent character and the potentials we possess alongside. When things are all smooth and well lowing, we don't get to tap into these realities about ourselves. I consider that to have a sort of fulfilling life on this earth requires a good understanding of oneself; self-awareness I might say.
I fashion myself as one who's laid back when it comes to life's troubles and situations, that demand action and approach. I always tell a friend; who said he found out that he does well under pressure, I told him how I don't like pressure. Nevertheless, when pressure came, I somehow just find a way to rest even in the midst of it. That gets me surprise sometimes.
People around me didn't really get a hang of it. It has sometimes been mistranslated as being unconcerned and showing laxity. Well, I know better, grateful to the fact I knew me. Had to question myself at some point if this was an attitude that's okay. Being seen from a wrong perspective, it was a question that should really come to mind. I got my answers and I found solace in that fact.
I won't totally isolate myself from an "overthinker". Times there are; and many, that I got caught in a world of thoughts, in response to a situation or condition that seemed overwhelming. Like this one time I missed an important presentation in school and I was lost in thoughts of how I can salvage the situation.
This part comes up mostly when I'm lost at choices to take. I tend to become so engrossed in deep thoughts, all for the best possible outcome. It's about making the best of whatever it is. I can remember doing such when I wanted choosing a school to study, while trying to buy some clothes, what to cook at times, where to go...a whole lot of others I can't think of. It's all about getting the best.
Beyond that, it was also about planning right. I fancy myself in planning things well enough and not just planning, but doing them well enough to see a smooth run of whatever intended. As a result, I engage in some deep thoughts to bring whatsoever it is to reality.
For such reasons alone do I engage in "overthinking". Apart from that, I think that I can say that I'm the laid-back kind of person. Overthinking can get me worked up, so I just let it be sometimes and "go to sleep". Of course, not totally dropping the issue.
A certain situation that has tested my ability as a laid-back person was this day particular presentation day in school. The course I studied required a lot of presentations, examinations and tests weren't only the assessment method. On this day, I had a presentation that for some reasons I was less prepared for. With all thoughts and possibilities that it would be cancelled, sadly it wasn't. Normally, I would do well to come around later. On this day though, I didn't. News spread later how the lecturers were certainly going to deal with us - if you know, you know.
To my surprise, I lost the composure I would normally have, having seen a lot in this school thing already. No, this day was different. I paced up and down in the room, to the surprise of my roommate who didn't expect it of me. Yeah, he knew me to be relaxed, even in such situations. Not today though, guess I lost it.
After some period of contemplations and what possible actions to take, I returned to my normal state of composure in troubling situations. One of my best therapy was to sleep it off; yeah, really sleep it off I mean here. So, I decided to sleep and wait for the best, yep. Later in the evening I got some news about how some persons complained about our situation and we were likely to be considered for another opportunity to make our presentations, with a little punishment of our marks though. Well, I was already calm, but it meant something to me. Failing wasn't my thing.
Beyond this time, I've faced other situations - high and low ones - that did test my ability to be laid-back. And yes, even till this day the test keeps coming up. But I guess it's just in me to sometimes relax, and be easy about the situations.
Images are mine
Last image is AI generated