Overthinking can get us into a lot of trouble.

Imagine going for a bicycle ride, and thinking about what your legs are doing with each and every pedal stroke! Before long my brain would probably paralyze my muscles into inability to do anything at all!

Such an approach to learning any activity is a method that few people need, because it only makes things harder.

I can see the point of such analysis for, let\’s say, the physical therapist in training. For the rest of us? We just work at learning to manage that bicycle until our bodies get the hang of it.

Overthinking can spoil a story, too.

In previous posts, I\’ve mentioned my interest in ballet. Take the ballet Giselle. I love the music, and enjoy watching the dancing. The story line? The more I think about it, the more unbelievable it gets.

The story is set in the Rhineland, in the middle ages. Giselle is a frail, young, innocent peasant girl who is in love with a young man who calls himself Loys. In fact, they plan to marry. This Loys is, in truth, Count Albrecht. Not only that; he\’s already engaged to another woman!

When, inevitably, Loys/Albrecht\’s cover is blown, Giselle goes mad and (according to the production) either dies when her weak heart gives out; or stabs herself to death with Albrecht\’s sword.

End of Act I. So — how did Albrecht imagine that he could pass himself off as a peasant? It seems to me that he would have immediately been spotted for an imposter. Even dressed in peasant garb, wouldn\’t Count Albrecht\’s physical carriage alone have made him stand out as someone who was no commoner?

In Act II, Giselle\’s spirit saves Albrecht from the terrible wilis; vengeful spirits of jilted young maidens who died unwed. Albrecht must have been out of his mind to visit any grave at midnight! And let\’s not even start on the story after the story, that is, did Albrecht marry his original intended?

So there you have it. Overthinking in this case overrides suspension of belief. I think I\’ll stop thinking and go for a ride.