Confessions of an Overthinker: A Mindfulness Teacher's Truth

So I have a confession to make.

I’m a mindfulness teacher with a mind that runs like a browser with 47 tabs open. Yes, I overthink. Sometimes I even overthink about teaching others not to overthink. I do get the irony, and it does make me laugh.

My overthinking appears in countless ways — analyzing every text tone, replaying conversations from 3 years ago at 3 AM and creating detailed plans for scenarios that have a less than 1% chance of happening. And yes, sometimes I catch myself wondering if my meditation students can tell that I’m overthinking about teaching meditation!

But here’s what I’ve learned: overthinking isn’t the enemy. It’s just my mind doing what minds do — trying to protect me and make sense of the world. The real practice isn’t in stopping the thoughts, because let’s face it, that’s impossible, but in changing our relationship with them.

Why this Matters

Overthinking isn’t just exhausting, it robs us of the present moment. While I’m crafting the perfect response to an email in my mind, I’m missing the sounds of the crackling fire or the way the sun is hitting my favorite mug filled with matcha or the beauty of the moment.

Sometimes, my overthinking shows up right in the middle of teaching mindfulness. And you know what? That’s actually perfect. Because in those moments, I get to practice what I teach in real time.

To my fellow overthinkers: your busy mind isn’t a failure of a mindfulness practice, it’s an opportunity to practice mindfulness. Every time we notice we’re overthinking, and we respond with compassion instead of criticism, we’re strengthening our mindfulness muscles!

After all, we teach what we most need to learn. And maybe that’s exactly as it should be.