Overthinking Quotes
Are you prone to overthinking? Getting caught up in a web of thoughts can be our greatest downfall, but it is only natural. Sometimes overthinking can be unhealthy and can lead to obsessive thoughts which make us feel anxious and guilty. The overthinking quotes below have been sourced by the Meaningful Paths team to show you that you aren’t alone in your overthinking, and to inspire you to break the cycle of thinking too much. Please also explore Meaningful Paths other resources from lost hope to purposeful living.
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Overthinking Quotes
Let us explore quotes about overthinking from a range of wise individuals.
“The person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts, and so he loses touch with reality.”
Alan Watts
The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.”
Eckhart Tolle
“Let us not be so busy rushing to get somewhere else that we fail to stop and appreciate all the miracles.”
Vernon Sankey
“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.”
John Dryden
“When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.”
Tuli Kupferberg
“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
Jack London
There are many more overthinking quotes for us to explore. We can get lost in our thoughts at times and this causes a fog which prevents us from thinking clearly. This could be about finances, relationships, work and more. It is important not to make irrational decisions and to create a space for calm and reflection. Putting these words of wisdom into practice is also of paramount importance. We can have an epiphany and change in thought which is always the starting point for change. Next must come our change in actions. The appraisal of events and our given situation and then action taken from such an appraisal will determine our happiness and well-being.
Be sure to revisit our page on overthinking quotes anytime you need to find a place of calm. We also recommend that you write some of these quotes down in a journal. Please enjoy further thoughts and quotes about overthinking below.
Now we will learn from inspiring women and quotes about overthinking from women of significance.
Overthinking quotes by inspiring women
“Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend. To understand the things that are at our door is the best preparation for understanding those that lie beyond.”
Hypatia
“Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent. We cannot nurture others from a dry well. We need to take care of our own needs first, so that we can give from our surplus, our abundance. When we nurture others from a place of fullness, we feel renewed instead of taken advantage of.”
Jennifer Louden
“Feeling compassion for ourselves in no way releases us from responsibility for our actions. Rather, it releases us from the self-hatred that prevents us from responding to our life with clarity and balance.”
Tara Brach
“Someone I once loved gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this, too, was a gift.”
Mary Oliver
“Happiness is not a matter of events; it depends upon the tides of the mind.”
Alice Meynell
Overthinking Quotes by Oprah Winfrey
Philanthropist, Television host and richest African American of the 20th Century; we will now look at inspiring words and quotes about overthinking by Oprah Winfrey.
“Wherever you are you are in your journey, I hope you too, will keep encountering challenges. It is a blessing to be able to survive them, to be able to keep putting one foot in front of the other-to be in a position to make the climb up life’s mountain, knowing that the summit still lies ahead. And every experience is a valuable teacher.
Oprah Winfrey
“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.”
Oprah Winfrey
“Forgiveness is letting go of hope that the past can be changed.”
Oprah Winfrey
“The great courageous act that we must all do , is to have the courage to step out of our history and past so that we can all live our dreams.”
Oprah Winfrey
“In the mist of Difficulty lies Opportunity.’‘
Oprah Winfrey
“If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think.‘
Oprah Winfrey
“One of the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges are to burn.‘
Oprah Winfrey
“It makes no difference how many peaks you reach if there was no pleasure in the climb.”
Oprah Winfrey
“True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘thank you for that experience.”
Oprah Winfrey
Overthinking Quotes by Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a philanthropist, political leader and a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary. We will now look at some of Nelson Mandela’s words or wisdom and his overthinking quotes.
“True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘thank you for that experience.”
Nelson Mandela
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear’, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Nelson Mandela
Overthinking Quotes by Ancient Philosophers
We will now learn quotes from philosophical men from history notably Stoic quotes about overthinking and wisdom from Stoicism.
“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”
Marcus Aurelius
“Think of yourself as dead. you have lived your life. Now take what is left and live it properly.”
Marcus Aurelius
“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”
Marcus Aurelius
“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
Marcus Aurelius
“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”
Marcus Aurelius
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is perspective, not the truth.”
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius thoughts can help us to think of the bigger picture of life. We all have one identical currency and that is time. We often fear things about the future that will never happen, and we often ruminate over things from the past that we grow into a monster which never was. Marcus Aurelius thoughts can help to prevent us worrying about the past and to help us to start living in the moment. Now we will learn more from Seneca and their overthinking quotes. Meaningful Paths anxiety worksheets can accompany your learnings from the thoughts and perceptions on this page.
“It does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it.”
Seneca
“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.”
Seneca
“He who indulges himself on empty fears earns himself real fears.”
Seneca
“It is better to conquer our grief than to deceive it.”
Seneca
Overthinking Quotes by Confucius
Confucius was a Chinese Philosopher, born in the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period who died in 479 BCE. He is regarded at the ‘state elder,’ and sought after for his wisdom. Now let us explore overthinking quotes by Confucius to help us with our anxious state of mind.
“Everyone has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
Confucius
“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.’
Confucius
“When anger arises, think of the consequences.’
Confucius
“Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.’
Confucius
“Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.’
Confucius
“Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.’
Confucius
‘Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.’
Confucius
‘Success depends on previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure.’
Confucius
‘Men’s natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart.’
Confucius
‘Real Knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.’
Confucius
‘I hear and I forget, I see and I remember. I do and I understand.’
Confucius
‘Silence is a true friend who never betrays.’
Confucius
‘Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall’.
Confucius
‘Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.’
Confucius
‘Study the past if you want to define your future.’
Confucius
‘Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes’.
Confucius
‘A superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.’
Confucius
‘Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.’
Confucius
‘If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing is wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?’
Confucius
”Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star.’
Confucius
Overthinking Quotes by Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu was a Chinese Philosopher and also a writer. He is famous for Tao Te Ching, the founder of Taoism. Now let us look at overthinking quotes by Lao Tzu and learn from his wisdom for inner peace and a calm state of mind.
‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.’
Lao Tzu
‘Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.’
Lao Tzu
‘Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.’
Lao Tzu
‘If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.’
Lao Tzu
‘He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.’
Lao Tzu
‘To the mind that is still , the whole universe surrenders.’
Lao Tzu
‘When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.’
Lao Tzu
‘Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.’
Lao Tzu
‘I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These are your greatest treasures.’
Lao Tzu
Overthinking Quotes by Epictetus
Epictetus was a Greek Stoic Philosopher. He was born into slavery and in his later life one of his students wrote down his teachings. We will now learn overthinking quotes by Epictetus.
‘Wealth consist not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.’
Epictetus
‘It’s not what happens to you , but how you react to it that matters.’
Epictetus
‘Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.’
Epictetus
‘There is only one way to explain happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.’
Epictetus
‘Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.’
Epictetus
‘First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.’
Epictetus
‘If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.’
Epictetus
‘He who laughs at himself never runs our of things to laugh at.’
Epictetus
‘People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.’
Epictetus
‘Circumstances don’t make the man, they only reveal him to himself.’
Epictetus
‘First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.’
Epictetus
‘Seek not the good in external things; seek it in yourselves.’
Epictetus
Overthinking Quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt helped to create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Next we will explore overthinking quotes by this inspiring lady.
‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.’
Eleanor Roosevelt
‘Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.’
Eleanor Roosevelt
‘As for accomplishment, I just did what I had to do as things came along.’
Eleanor Roosevelt
Overthinking Quotes by Matthieu Ricard
Matthieu Ricard is a Microbiologist, Buddhist Monk and International Speaker and author. Here we will look at overthinking quotes by Matthieu Ricard. Matthieu Ricard brings a wonderful balance of science and philosophical wisdom.
‘We try to fix the outside so much, but our control of the outer world is limited , temporary, and often illusionary.’
Matthieu Ricard
‘Happiness is a state of inner fulfilment, not the gratification of inexhaustible desires for outward things.’
Matthieu Ricard
‘Meditation is not just blissing our under a mango tree. It completely changes your brain and therefore changes what your are.’
Matthieu Ricard
‘I think what everyone should be doing, before it is too late, is committing themselves to what they really want to do with their lives.’
Matthieu Ricard
‘As long as a sense of self-importance rules your being, you will never know lasting peace.’
Matthieu Ricard
‘Being altruistic not only helps us to benefit others, but it is also the most satisfying way to live..’
Matthieu Ricard
When we live our life in line with our values and focus on common humanity, it is easier for us to know what the right thing to do is and to know what the right path for us is to follow. We can often overthink and become anxious over our career, making more money, wanting and needing more things; but in reality if we follow our values and make decisions based on kindness for others, we will rarely go far wrong and we will think with a clear mind. Our article on jealousy can help you with, how to stop overthinking in a relationship? We will explore a few final thoughts on quotes about overthinking before we share more insights on what healthy steps you can take next.
Some Overthinking Quotes by Meaningful Paths Founder
Here are some general thoughts and overthinking quotes by Meaningful Paths Founder David Chorlton. When we begin to understand our emotions with clarity, we do not get lost in a myriad of anxiety and further negative thinking patterns. We then have a foundation to see our thoughts and future actions more clearly.
‘It is wise to sit quietly in our garden to ponder, in doing so we create a foundation for our future actions; however, if we think too much we may never live.’
David Chorlton
‘Always take a breath, pause, and ask yourself, what would the best version of myself do on this situation?’
David Chorlton
Quotes about overthinking – next steps
We hope our quotes have helped you reduce anxiety and rumination. If you would like to learn more about taking control of your life, having direction, purposeful living and more, please sign up to our email and explore our free content and courses by world leading practitioners. You can also download our free App – Meaningful Paths on Apple and Google Play to help you find calm and personal growth.
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