Learning to Stay Grounded

There was a time when I believed that thinking deeply and caring a lot meant I was sincere, emotionally aware, and just… a good person. I used to replay conversations, imagine different scenarios, and analyse silences or distance between myself and others. Nothing went unquestioned.

But the more I thought about everything, the more stuck I felt. What I once saw as caring slowly turned into rumination, and it drained my peace more than I realised. I eventually had to ask myself: did all this thinking actually matter? And the answer was no. What mattered was how it left me feeling.

I used to overthink constantly—especially the small, trivial things that led nowhere. I wondered what people thought of me, read into gifts, silences, and distance, and replayed moments that were long over and completely out of my control. I imagined how things could’ve gone differently or wished they had. That’s when the mental loop really kicked in.

Even though these thoughts felt important at the time, they didn’t lead to anything real. They were just intrusive and exhausting.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was the difference between reflection and rumination. Reflection helped me grow and move forward. Rumination kept me stuck, going over the same thoughts again and again. One gave me clarity; the other took my energy.

I had to change the way I talked to myself about certain situations. I started focusing on what I could control—my intentions, my actions, and what I could learn from the experience. Staying grounded meant separating facts from assumptions and letting go of the responsibility of how other people chose to interpret things.

I used to think maturity meant making sure everyone was on the same page emotionally. Now I realise it’s more about pacing what you share, matching energy instead of chasing it, and accepting that not every question needs an answer. Being sensitive and deep isn’t a weakness, but real wisdom comes from knowing where to put your attention—and when to let things go.

At the end of the day, choosing peace doesn’t mean closing your heart. It just means protecting it a little better.