The More You Know, the More You Worry

(photo by toa heftiba, unsplash)

The More You Know, The More You Worry

            I’ve known many rainforest-minded humans who are quite anxious. Being extra aware, sensitive, and creative can be fertile ground for extreme worry and self-doubt. When you perceive multiple subtleties and complexities, there is naturally more to be anxious about. When you see how everything is connected and you have a creative mind, it’s easy to imagine disaster scenarios or to catastrophize. Luckily, your imagination can also produce solutions to problems. But a rich fantasy life can often lead to more monsters under the bed!

            Because of your abundant sensitivities, it’s likely that you have an easily activated nervous system. And if you grew up in a seriously dysfunctional family, you may be hypervigilant as well. This would be the source of any extra anxiety you might have. Add to that, stressful events in the world, and your anxiety might be extreme.

            Perhaps you thought that if you were smart, you wouldn’t be a worrier. If you were smart, you’d know all of the answers. You wouldn’t have to be anxious because you could think your way out of any problem.

            But, in fact, you may worry constantly. You worry when you’re sleeping. When you’re hiking. When you’re cooking. When you’re driving. When you’re not worrying.

So what’s with that?

            Let me explain.

            Your very active rainforest mind is able to dream up so many things to worry about. Less complex minds may worry less because there isn’t as much thinking. With you, there’s lots of thinking. And if you’re highly creative? Watch out. Even more worries.

            Add to this, your capacity to notice things that others don’t. More to notice, more to worry about.

            And, of course, if you have deeply held ethical beliefs around justice issues and if you’re sensitive to the suffering of all beings, then, well, there might be a teensy weensy bit of anxiety in your world.

            See what I’m saying?

            I understand that you think that you ought to worry less because, as a smart person, you’re supposed to be a great problem solver. And maybe you are a great problem solver.

            That may not stop the worry.

            Of course, there might be complicating factors. Trauma in childhood might make you anxious today. Pressure and expectations due to your smartness might make you nervous. Hormone imbalances and illness might cause anxiety. You could be a parent.

Complicating factors.

            It’s not easy to sort it all out. But I’m here to suggest that there’s a connection between your rainforest mind and your capacity for worry.

            Because you think a lot, it’s easy to slip into an anxious state. You have a mind that needs to be active, questioning, and dancing. Imagine that if you get more intellectual stimulation, you will worry less.

            And, if all else fails, go for beauty. See the gorgeousness of the flower, the rainstorm, the laughing children. And the beauty of you. Worries and all.

(This post originally published in my book Journey Into Your Rainforest Mind.)