topic Re: Introspective or laid back? in Community Chat

Introspective or laid back?

LilacTree — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:18:05 GMT

I am so introspective and wish I were not. Being laid back and accepting of what is . . . makes for a much easier life. I have always envied those who can accept things the way they were, or are.

How would you describe yourself?

Re: Introspective or laid back?

sweetee2 — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:31:28 GMT

At my age 61, I learn that the saying "don't sweat the small stuff " really makes sense. Oh yes I had my share of stuff to deal with and my worring hasn't changed anything. People are going to do what they want anyway. It's my hubby and my time now. We just have to keep reminding ourselves that.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

Moonchilde — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:41:02 GMT

I'm a mixture, as I suspect most people are. There are many things it's easy for me to go with the flow about as I get older - for one thing, being retired and not on a schedule vs. working and job and traffic-stressed makes a big difference for me.

I've always been introspective and analytical about family and social issues, situations, feelings, etc. but I dissect them to my satisfaction, put them in the mental cupboard they belong in, and only take them out if/when a situation warrants - reminiscences of the past, etc.

I tend now to let bigger, personality-involved things go and get po'd about little everyday things 😟

Re: Introspective or laid back?

qvcfreak — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:41:03 GMT

I pretty much don't worry about things I cannot change or control off. I pray about the big and little stuff, give it to the Lord and move on.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

freakygirl — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:43:25 GMT

no matter what the size of "stuff" is, I'll sweat it. ugh. I've been this way since I was a child. serious, sensitive, overthinking everything to pieces. I also have very strong intuition about people and things, and believe me, that doesn't bode well for someone like me. I'm old, yet I haven't grown out of this rut.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

deepwaterdotter — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:44:45 GMT

@qvcfreak wrote:
I pretty much don't worry about things I cannot change or control off. I pray about the big and little stuff, give it to the Lord and move on.

So do I, Amen!

Re: Introspective or laid back?

SeaMaiden — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:47:02 GMT

A question like this is just too much work to think about and mull over....so what does this make me?

Re: Introspective or laid back?

YorkieonmyPillow — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:51:20 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
I am so introspective and wish I were not. Being laid back and accepting of what is . . . makes for a much easier life. I have always envied those who can accept things the way they were, or are.

How would you describe yourself?

Perhaps the people you envy aren't as laid back as you think they are. Maybe they worry and just put on a front.

OTOH, there ARE people who don't waste a lot of time worrying - my husband is one.
I am becoming more like him, thank goodness.......

Re: Introspective or laid back?

LilacTree — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:51:39 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
A question like this is just too much work to think about and mull over....so what does this make me?

@SeaMaiden

Ha ha . . . pretty laid back, I would think! Lucky you!!

Re: Introspective or laid back?

Trinity11 — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:56:06 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
I am so introspective and wish I were not. Being laid back and accepting of what is . . . makes for a much easier life. I have always envied those who can accept things the way they were, or are.

How would you describe yourself?

I am sensitive and introspective. I accept that about myself and I think I was born this way.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

QueenDanceALot — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:59:37 GMT

I think you can be both.

Introspection isn't about worry. It's about examining the reasons for your thoughts and actions. It's just an interesting and hopefully helpful thing fo do. Learning about yourself doesn't create worry.

I can think of a number of people I know who are both introspective AND laid back.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

LilacTree — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:04:21 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
@LilacTree wrote:
I am so introspective and wish I were not. Being laid back and accepting of what is . . . makes for a much easier life. I have always envied those who can accept things the way they were, or are.

How would you describe yourself?

I am sensitive and introspective. I accept that about myself and I think I was born this way.

@Trinity11
I was too. I know I will never change, but the older I get, the more it takes out of me. So I am trying!!

Re: Introspective or laid back?

LilacTree — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:06:20 GMT

@QueenDanceALot wrote:
I think you can be both.

Introspection isn't about worry. It's about examining the reasons for your thoughts and actions. It's just an interesting and hopefully helpful thing fo do. Learning about yourself doesn't create worry.

I can think of a number of people I know who are both introspective AND laid back.

@QueenDanceALot

I'm going to try really hard to think about something I'm not worried about . . . !!

Re: Introspective or laid back?

QueenDanceALot — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:07:13 GMT

I can think of a person or two who are rather famous who could use a dose of introspection.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

QueenDanceALot — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:37:55 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
@QueenDanceALot wrote:
I think you can be both.

Introspection isn't about worry. It's about examining the reasons for your thoughts and actions. It's just an interesting and hopefully helpful thing fo do. Learning about yourself doesn't create worry.

I can think of a number of people I know who are both introspective AND laid back.

@QueenDanceALot
I'm going to try really hard to think about something I'm not worried about . . . !!

But worrying isn't introspection.

Introspection might lead you to worry if you're a worrier.

But introspection can be informative and calming to a person.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

RedTop — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:17:06 GMT

If something needs to be done, I'm a very aggressive, git er done type of person, but I also do lazy very well.

I retired early to take care of my husband and spend time together enjoying what we worked so hard for. Our lives are more laid back now than they've ever been, and it's wonderful. We literally sit on our front porch enjoying the peace and quiet, and watching the grass grow. Our calendar fills up quickly every month with medical appts for him, my mother, or myself, but we just take each day as it comes, and don't sweat the small stuff.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

chickenbutt — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:17:19 GMT

Hey LT! Geez, I could write a book about all of who I am.

Laid back - nah, pretty much not. I'm very much non-trusting. I'm a very analytical, reality-based thinker. I have a high sense of order and sense of justice. I am EXTREMELY sensitive to the perils of animals.

I think that is probably pretty much psych 101. Having the childhood I did, there was no order or justice. I'm not an emotional thinker becaue I probably learned very early on that that will get you nowhere..Animals are pure. Humans are not to be trusted, and i could go on but I'll spare ya.

My husband is an emotional thinker and it drives me a little crazy sometimes. He comes to decisions based entirely on his emotions, with no regard for facts or reality-based analysis. In that regard, we are 100% different because that just doesn't make sense to me. As a consequence of his type of thinking, he almost always comes to a conclusion that ends up being wrong. But the frustration is that you cannot get somebody like that to understand. They do what they do, it comes out badly, then they just keep doing the same thing over and over again. Hmmm...that's the definition of what? hehe - just kidding.

I guess Introspective fits me pretty well. Always thinking. Always figuring stuff out. Always thinking about being safe and trying to keep my head out of the past but not always successfully. If I can use my analytical skills to figure something out I always feel good, and confident, about that.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

QueenDanceALot — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:20:46 GMT

I don't understand equating introspection with laziness.

I can think of a couple people I know who are lazy and not introspective in the least.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

LilacTree — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:31:16 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
Hey LT! Geez, I could write a book about all of who I am.

Laid back - nah, pretty much not. I'm very much non-trusting. I'm a very analytical, reality-based thinker. I have a high sense of order and sense of justice. I am EXTREMELY sensitive to the perils of animals.

I think that is probably pretty much psych 101. Having the childhood I did, there was no order or justice. I'm not an emotional thinker becaue I probably learned very early on that that will get you nowhere..Animals are pure. Humans are not to be trusted, and i could go on but I'll spare ya.

My husband is an emotional thinker and it drives me a little crazy sometimes. He comes to decisions based entirely on his emotions, with no regard for facts or reality-based analysis. In that regard, we are 100% different because that just doesn't make sense to me. As a consequence of his type of thinking, he almost always comes to a conclusion that ends up being wrong. But the frustration is that you cannot get somebody like that to understand. They do what they do, it comes out badly, then they just keep doing the same thing over and over again. Hmmm...that's the definition of what? hehe - just kidding.

I guess Introspective fits me pretty well. Always thinking. Always figuring stuff out. Always thinking about being safe and trying to keep my head out of the past but not always successfully. If I can use my analytical skills to figure something out I always feel good, and confident, about that.

@chickenbutt

Hey back CB!! Your last paragraph describes me perfectly. I cannot just "let things go" whether it's my problem or one of my loved ones. My daughter drives me crazy because she just ignores everything and her life is a mess. I used to try to help her, but she doesn't want my help. So now I just wait and see what's going to happen next . . . and something always does.

I can't do that. I've never had an issue I did not address. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose, but I will always put 100% into trying to fix it. I have to say that's how I've managed to survive all of these years on my own. I can't tolerate being taken advantage of (except by my own kids).

I know of your childhood and, horrible as it was, it has made you very strong. I've always admired that about you.

Re: Introspective or laid back?

LilacTree — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:35:57 GMT

@QueenDanceALot wrote:
@LilacTree wrote:
@QueenDanceALot wrote:
I think you can be both.

Introspection isn't about worry. It's about examining the reasons for your thoughts and actions. It's just an interesting and hopefully helpful thing fo do. Learning about yourself doesn't create worry.

I can think of a number of people I know who are both introspective AND laid back.

@QueenDanceALot
I'm going to try really hard to think about something I'm not worried about . . . !!
But worrying isn't introspection.

Introspection might lead you to worry if your're a worrier.

But introspection can be informative and calming to a person.

@QueenDanceALot

That's another way of looking at it, for sure. I like that.