Choose “In Action” over “Inaction”

Analysis paralysis. It’s that painful place of inaction we get into when we’re uncertain about next steps. Don’t have all the details we want. When we don’t want to fail. So, we keep reviewing, analyzing, thinking… going over every possible angle and outcome again and again. When what we need to do is run the experiment.

Let me ask you this, though. When you think “experiment”, what comes to your mind? Me… I picture a lab with scientists in white coats, microscopes. Lots of activity as they go from machine to machine, testing samples, jotting down observations, making tweaks. I also imagine that there is a lot of thinking going on here. See, the antidote to analysis paralysis isn’t thoughtless action. That’s like throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Here’s what we need to understand and accept. Some of us are quick to think and others quick to act. Those quicker to act tend to make bigger mistakes, lose big, learn quicker, readjust faster, and experience bigger wins. Those of us who are quicker to think, make smaller mistakes and less frequently, we may then possibly learn at a slower pace, make minimal adjustments – well because a lot of thought has already gone into the plan – and experience more modest wins. Both can experience wins; it just depends on what kind of win you want. But what you’ll notice is that neither is an all or nothing approach. The quick to act people need to take a step back periodically, assess, and reiterate. The ones quick to think, need to act on their well-planned plans. Otherwise what’s the point?

That brings me back to running the experiment. Are you open to looking at life as an experiment? A fun lab where you can test, explore, fail, try again, win, lose, learn? As a person who is wired towards “think before you act”, I can say that this type of mindset is uncomfortable; scary even. But I can also say, without a shadow of a doubt, there’s no other way to learn. And I mean the kind of learning that sticks.

The Relational Introvert podcast itself is an exercise in running the experiment. That’s why you hear me say in the intro “it’s a journey”. I don’t know exactly where it’s going to lead, I don’t have all the details worked out, but I knew when I started that I needed to run with it and reiterate as I went on. And I don’t know what things will look like in the next 6 months, but I knew that I couldn’t stay exactly where I was and expect to see the horizon more clearly. I needed to take this step forward.

What experiment do you need to run? Where do thought and action need to come together for you? Remember, no matter the uncertainty, there is promise and opportunity on the other side. If you are willing to run the experiment.

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This article is a transcription of Episode 7 of my podcast Relational Introvert. For those who prefer to read, this is for you! If you’re more auditory, then check out my podcast each Mon. Access new and previous episodes here… feel free to share, like, comment:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/relational-introvert/id1499541850

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/nancy-john

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4htAmezClZR6KMiEAizu8l