Do you ever feel like you know too much or are too smart? I feel like most people who are content/happy are oblivious to so many things, while I am so anal that I spend so much effort reasoning why something won't make me happy (and I usually succeed).

Ignorance is bliss. No really it is. People who are ignorant of things do not lay awake all night thinking about those things.

I know way too much, I also spend a lot of time thinking about what I know - I am "content" I am not "happy" all the time.

The secret here is to seek contentment - not happiness. No one can be happy all the time - they can be content.

BTW the more intelligent a person is the more they "rationalize" everything. That can be a detriment in many situations.

As Athrael wrote, ignorance is bliss. And 'the unexamined life is not worth living', but then moderation in everything, including moderation. I'd say you need to get some physical exercise!

Me? Yeah... I have this problem.

I'm aware of my strength, weaknesses, sincerity, deception... It's double sided - I like to think of myself as a wise person, but feeling aware over inflates my ego to the point where I doubt if I'm really all that wise, and all of a sudden I'm a jerk in my own eyes.

Yeah, I over think things, not book wise, but in another form.

I do think that ignorance is bliss and I don't like it anyway. Some people seem very happy to not care much about anything. Not my idea of living I am more the anal type lol but I am very happy mostly

It's impossible to be TOO smart. Although it's possible, and common, to be too self-conscious.

I'm not sure whether I am intelligent or not, I'm not too knowledgable. But I am very aware and I find that quite depressing.

I think I'm smart but not TOO smart. The problem is that I am just smart enough to question everything, so I end up dissatisfied. I am ultra dismissive and can be cynical about just about anything, e.g. I hear about someone getting married and I think, "Whatever, they'll just get divorced. As if anyone ever means 'for better or for worse.'" If I hear about some great new treatment, I think, "Yeah whatever, some pharmaceutical set-up with side-effect after side-effect." And in every relationship I've ever had, I end up visualising the end of it even before it's really started. So bad.

Yes. Then I watch some documentary on space and realize that I still can't wrap my brain around such abstract concepts as gravity and the space/ time continuum and I start to feel like everybody else. It's all relative lol.

Well no, if you were more ignorant or stupid then you would still have the same bad habit.

I do. And it is so counterproductive. I'm trying to stop thinking so much. More importantly, I'm REALLY trying to stop expecting other people to think more. One of the things I LOVE about my husband is that he is so easy going and things just roll off him and he never ponders or analyzes too much. At the same time, it drives me crazy that he never thinks about things more like...why I'm being quiet or reclusive or what may have triggered a disagreement. I even said to him once that if I were dying of a mysterious disease, he wouldn't THINK about research, looking at clues and delving deeply into the subject. I have found that a lot of people hate thinkers. They just want to dabble at the surface of subjects. If you want to go deep, you come off as aggressive and opinionated. It's a no win.

..."The older I get, the less I know"...this is the mantra that has helped ME pull MY head out.

give it a try...there's fresh air out here!

I definately feel the same way.We both have to loosen up. It is affecting my life negatively. I am closed out from the world.Maybe oblivion is bliss?

I am content and happy almost all the time and I am smart, I'm in Honors English, Honors Spanish and Honors US History, I watch the news multiple times a day and read the newspaper almost every day, it doesn't effect me. I'm happy and relaxed most of the time (no IM NOT ON DRUGS!!!) and I laugh really often. Remember to count you blessings, remember your gifts and talents and thank God in your prayers everyday for the wonderful Universe He created and the good thing in life.

Meditate to clear your mind, it makes all the worlds petty problems seem insignificant. Read a Holy Book, like I read the Bible and the Vedas. Do Yoga it helps you relax! Go to a House of Worship, like a Temple, Church or Mosque, the fellowship in faith really helps. Help out your community, it gives you satisfaction. Cheer up someone who is down, calm someone who is upset, and comfort someone in fear. All this helps! It is what got me out of a Suicidal Depression 2 years ago and has kept me going!

Remember, Life is what you make it, you are your own master and do what you fear! :D