Is it really possible to overanalyze something?

Question

To get too heavy into metaphysics, so to speak. Peeling away layer after layer of a thought.

Answer 1

Yes it is possible and quite frankly so with a probability of nearing 100%.

Most of us do over-analyze, so common is it that the expression "paralysis of analysis" has long been coined as the description of this habit.

Another catch phrase is " anal lysis, " with great emphasis on the first word. (lysis is a derivative word that implies 'to cut') and of course, what the first word's designation is, is known to not few !

Over-analysis derives from commissioning the mind to become the master rather than the servant. Very little forward momentum is accomplished by too great an emphasis on heavy usage of the Mind, or too great a leaning upon it. It gives the impression of progressive movement but in fact, this is only an illusion, for the movement is really proceeding only laterally, or what one might call looping, which renders one into going in 'circles; hence, the 'paralysis of analysis.'

When the mind is dropped from peering into an issue that sets before us, the "peeling away layer after layer..." you speak of does occur naturally and of its own accord and with complete understanding of the subject at hand. This 'unfolding' might be mysterious to the Western Mind, but it is true.

The Mind is designed to be servant, not master and can affect to be like that of an unruly child, whose behaviors often need disciplining.

Metaphysics is a different dynamic altogether. It can be said to be the mystical branch of Philosophy: it does not quite aim for the depths of a matter but rather breadth and height, transition, transformation, and diversity of it; hence, the prefix " meta. "

The trick here is of course to know just what one means when he or she says, " over - " or expressions like " too much" or
" too little. " These expressions are subjective and relational. Too much for one man is quite sufficient for another, and again too little for still another man.

What is needed for the clay one has in hand is what imports to a given matter, and again what imports is determined by the individual working with it in tandem with the nature of the issue itself.

Answer 2

You can read thousands of authors and all of them WITHOUT EXCEPTION round up their answers to "what if"? and get lost on the meaning. The up most authority on the Psyche an its human expression is writer and psychic poet Jane Roberts and her line of "Seth Books" that she has channeled from 1963 through 1984 and she has clocked over 24,000 hours of seance time speaking for SETH as she describes him as a "an energy entity or personality no longer focused on physical reality" After 29 years of reading about metaphysics and the such, no one and I mean no one can do it better than Seth and Jane Roberts (not the same person) some of her books are titled "Seth Speaks", "The nature of personal reality", "The Psyche and its human expression" and "The unknown reality vol. 1 and 2" among others. After reading her books, no other authors make sense anymore or even come close. Her writings and verbatim notes and essays are considered the most important and most impacting ideas of the last century and are archived in the Yale Library of the State of New York but her books are available still. Glad to help.

Answer 3

No- how else is one going to learn about themselves, understand acceptance of how the world works. Life is said to be a mystery, I always question why.... Metaphysics is a form of study and takes years of suggestion, which is why we have so many scholars debating. Even the greatest philosophers bit each others head off- but they had control. Nowadays, the layers of understanding are becoming void; lack of education, severe drug abuse, alcholism, disrespect, ignorance, arrogance. Medically speaking, there is no such thing as overanalyzing- the brain functions in dimensions, as energy fields- we are all part of it, embedded in the Earth. Now I'm speaking and typing in overanalyzation theory... I apologize. LOL * Almost sounds like the X-files* Great question.

Answer 4

I tend to overanalyze in situations where I use my intuition. For instance, my intuition tells me a guy likes me a lot, and then I find out 3 seconds later that the guy is dating a co-worker.

Answer 5

Yes, this just happened to me.

I sent a friend some silly jokes by e-mail without thinking about it (no over analyzing here). But she over analyzed it by thinking that I was commenting on her relationship with her live-in boyfriend. I explained over and over again that unthinkingly I sent those jokes just for a laugh, but she over analyzing made some serious, angry jabs at me.

Now I asked another friend for her thoughts on this situation and she analyzed it for me and now it's over and done with as in analysis over.

Answer 6

Of course! But it depends on why you are analyzing a thought in the first place. If it is to develop a greater understanding, then fine. But, if it is just being stuck in one train of thought, it can become obsessive.

Answer 7

Yes it is,I am guilty of doing it at times.Most people that over analyze things are very indecisive and full of anxiety.When I catch myself over analyzing something I quickly change my thoughts,I truly believe that it is mentally unhealthy to question things too much.

Answer 8

Yes. You can even erase yourself from existence. Trust me, it is possible. Just try it, ask why till why is the why, till nothing is everything. Logic can only go so far until it contradicts itself. Simply put the truth is, there is no truth.

Answer 9

I think we forget to just go with the flow and let things play out. I am often guilty of this

Answer 10

Yes, the evidence is in the amount of answers to this question...all great answers by the way.