Too Much Thought

"Our age is bewailed as the age of Introversion. Must that needs be evil? We, it seems, are critical; we are embarrassed with second thoughts; we cannot enjoy any thing for hankering to know whereof the pleasure consists; we are lined with eyes; we see with our feet; the time is infected with Hamlet's unhappiness, —

'Sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought.' "(Emerson, "The American Scholar")

While I echo Emerson in defending Introversion (being interested in one own's mental life) I have noticed, however, that sometimes thinking too hard can be detrimental to present peace and happiness. If "we cannot enjoy any thing for hankering to know whereof the pleasure consists" then we miss out on the point of Introversion. As Elder Maxwell said concerning how we view our personal happiness "if we open the oven too often to see if the cake is done, it falls instead of rises." For example, I found myself today in church getting a bit anxious about possibly becoming less spiritual as my time is consumed with things such as school and other things. I realized quickly though that my worrying was irrational and self-centered. It would not solve the problem. Only engaging oneself in life and service solves the problem. So while I affirm the importance of pensiveness, I wish to be someone who is inspired by ideas but preoccupied with action.