A blank mind or a state of bliss

I recently happened to catch the Mel Gibson movie called 'What women want' on television again after many years. For whose who haven't seen this one, it is about a chauvinistic creative director in an advertising agency whose life changes after he magically develops the power to actually be able to hear what women around him were thinking. I quite liked the movie for a number of reasons. Firstly it was heartening to see and relate to a movie about advertising - my new career.( I have never really managed to seriously follow Mad Men). And secondly how among other avoidable cliches, the movie actually demonstrates how women were constantly thinking about something or the other- constantly worrying, brooding,second guessing with a blank mind being a rarity. 

Why do women think so much? Or is the correct phrase overthink? A victim of overthinking myself I think this trait does way more harm than good to our species. It is a trait that makes you take an otherwise innocent situation or a harmless thing said or done by someone and extrapolate and autopsy the fuck out of it till you have succeeded in building mountains of paranoia in your head. This could be about anything-why a colleague ignored you at work, why a junior didn't follow your instructions, why a friend did not show enough concern about a problem of yours, why the love of your life didn't call you exactly when you were hoping, why your maid  rebelled and refused to clean the second shelf. I think the biggest problem we women have is that we get into the 'Why' of things way too much instead of the dealing with a situation for what it is. This is not to say that there are not grave issues that deserve our thought and attention, but from experience, on most days overthinking is what we indulge in as a habit.

However I have realized that it is possible to get away from overthinking once in a while , and it often happens involuntarily. But when it happens ,it indeed is a wonderfully calming feeling. This phase is called having a blank mind.

I have realized that having a blank mind is a sign that I am at peace with myself. What is a blank mind? Well it is when you are solely focused on the task at hand with no other thoughts creeping into your mind-be it showering, cooking, working out, ironing anything. Suddenly you will realize 'Wow, I am actually doing just this and not thinking about anything else!' - and that is an indication that you don't have anything to brood or worry about at present and that is the best state of mind to be in. As an overthinker, these particular phases of having a blank mind give me a lot of peace and and give me a zen like state of being.

Is it possible to be in this state always? Maybe not. Maybe we are not genetically built to be that way as perhaps it is our job as women to constantly think about and provide for people around us (#ageoldbullshit). But once in a while when you are indulging in the most mundane of activities ,you will find yourself with a blank mind - and that according to me means that life is on track, times are good, you are happy with the way things are. My advice from experience would be to cherish that state of mind, and prolong it for as long as you can.

And maybe once you really start enjoying being in that state of mind, you will feel less of a need to get into the vicious cycle of overthinking.