The Process of Over-Analysis

One would think that to analyze something is not difficult. Well, it isn’t, but to over-analyze something is an art in itself. To be an over-analyzer, you must perfect the process of over-analysis until you reach the brink of it all. Of course, to someone who has not yet mastered this not easily acquired skill, statement of even the thought of over-analysis is preposterous. If you are one of these people, I would be obliged to show you how to perform this skill via example.

To provide an example, you will be placed in a hypothetical situation. You are walking through the woods, nonchalantly and content. You’re humming a tune and such, the day is cool. Just walking along, minding your own business, when a mysterious object falls to the ground from above. What do you do? You investigate, of course. The only item that catches your eye is an acorn. You conclude that this must have been the object that had fallen before you while you were just making your way innocently through the forest. Now, if you did not suffer the over-analyzer’s curse, you would be satisfied with this conclusion and continue on your way. This is where you must learn the art of developing the mindset and curiosity to go much further than “What the…hell…what the hell was that? Oh, it was just an acorn.” With the over-analyzer, “Oh, it was just an acorn” never proves enough.

Now you’ve managed to pinpoint the identified fallen object (what we will call the I.F.O.). Now what do you do? Ask questions, do not let yourself be easily satisfied with the fact that, yes…it is in fact an acorn. Fill your head with wonder, become ravenous to find out as much as you can about this seemingly ordinary acorn. Did it fall because of a squirrel, or because of gravity? Where did it come from? What is to become of it now that it has fallen? All questions that you must answer by looking into the situation. In fact, do not just look into the situation, but through it as well.

Look up and all around for any animals that may be scurrying about within the treetops. For sake of time, we will say that there are no traces of any animals nearby that could have caused the acorn to fall at your feet, just inches from striking you in the head. Instead of becoming angry at the acorn, transfer it to bubbling curiosity. Continue the interrogation. So, now we know that it’s an acorn and it fell because of gravity. Yes, it fell, but where from? Which tree could it have possible fell from, there is a cluster of trees in this area? Well, is there a breeze or wind? Would this breeze or wind be strong enough to deflect the path of an acorn? Nope, no breeze or wind, so this means that the acorn must have fallen from straight above it’s point of landing. You look straight up, and sure enough, there is a branch from an oak tree above you. Yes, and? Well…follow the branch, look to see that it is the rather greatly sized oak tree at your side. The tree must have come from an acorn such as the one that you behold before you. It is a strong tree, having lived for many years. It must be the parent to many of the smaller trees that surround it, all coming from acorns similar to the acorn. Now, you must find the history of the acorn…your acorn. To do this, you must observe the tree from which it came. Is the tree healthy? Does it have signs of strength? Do the surrounding, smaller, and seeming offspring trees that surround it show signs of strength and vigor? Yes, yes, and yes…that is good. It means that this particular acorn comes from a good generation of strong oak trees. It’s history is a string of ancestor trees that have made it in this cruel world, so you need not worry about this acorn...it comes from a rather favorable background. Scale the tree, feel the roughness of the trunk and engraved imprints upon its base. Smell the tree, listen to the tree, look at the tree, taste the tree, be the tree! Okay, so you don’t have to go that far, but do you get my point? You’re right…there isn’t one.

What do you know so far? You know that the I.F.O. is an acorn, it landed from the oak tree that resides next to you, and the acorn fell because of gravity which came merely inches from striking you in the head and could very well have put you into a coma. Scratch the melodramatics and continue with your search to understand every detail about that acorn. You know the acorn’s past and that its present state is at your feet. Now, you must determine the future of this acorn. To do this, a close inspection of the acorn must be made. Look this acorn over thoroughly, as thoroughly as you did the tree from whence it came. It is of optimum quality. The base is of natural colour, the cap fits nicely and displays no cracks upon it. The acorn is of large size, is not shaped in any misfit way, and it hasn’t any blemishes. These are all signs of a healthy and striving acorn, this is what you want to see in an acorn that is going to make it out here in the wild. Providing that an animal does not make this wonderful specimen its prize (and what a prize it is), the acorn will become what its parent tree is. It will be strong and will live through many moons. It will endure harsh storms, dry seasons, and freezing ice that nearly chokes it dead…but it won’t, and the acorn will become one of the most grand oak trees in the forest.

Of course, someone of lesser analytical skills would never come to realize such fascinating details of this acorn. I’m sure that they would be happy with saying “Oh, it’s just an acorn.” Now that you are a over-analyzer in training, you know not to let this satisfy you, ever. In fact, become the acorn if you have to…just do not let the acorn sit there, it’s life unnoticed. Well, would you like it if you fell from a tree and someone who analyzes not just said “Oh, it’s just a person.” and walk away without going into more detail than that? I think not! So the next time you yell “Damn you acorn! You almost put me into a coma. If I had walked one more step, that would have been the end of me.” to an acorn, don’t be angry at the acorn…transform that anger into bubbling curiosity to understand the life of the acorn, and why it fell merely two inches from you head, almost putting you into a coma.