Overthinking = underdoing

As a coach and someone intrigued by human behavior, I often encounter recurring themes and challenging issues that my clients grapple with. While everyone is unique, there are certain universal struggles we tend to share, and one prevalent theme is overthinking.

In Western and corporate cultures, there is immense value placed on thinking. We have concepts like "thought leadership" and "thought partnership," discussions about "thinking fast and slow" (inspired by Daniel Kahneman's book Thinking, Fast and Slow), insights into "thinking without thinking" (explored in Malcolm Gladwell's Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking), the famous philosophical proposition "I think, therefore I am" by René Descartes, and the ubiquitous thinking inside and outside the box in every corporate "strategic" PowerPoint presentation, and so forth.

Don't get me wrong; I appreciate thinking. In fact, I consider myself quite adept at it (most days). However, every aspect of life comes with both benefits and costs. In my coaching discussions, I sometimes find that people inadvertently use thinking as a shield. What starts as pure, good old, constructive thinking can morph into overthinking and eventually transform into procrastination.

I've observed that the price of prolonged thinking is often a lack of action and doing. Essentially, overthinking equals underdoing.

I often wonder: why do we tend to overthink? I've pinpointed at least two potential reasons/benefits that make overthinking so captivating:

1. It's easier to just "mull things over" to indulge in constant contemplation rather than take decisive action. The process doesn't appear as daunting.
2. There's a false sense of safety in inaction. Overthinking becomes a facade, masking an underlying fear. Taking action carries the risk of looking foolish, being wrong, or facing ridicule and other discomforts. It's a venture into the unknown, and that, in itself, is risky and scary!

And what's the toll? The price we pay for the cycle of overthinking and under-doing is a sense of frustration and stagnation. If we are discerning, we come to the realization that life's most enriching moments occur through action, not just contemplation.

So, what to do about it? You guessed it – I am proposing a step-by-step process, an antidote to the habits of overthinking and under-doing.

Step 1:

Start by articulating the issue you have been thinking about for the past two days, one week, a decade, or any significant amount of time for you. Example: "Going to medical school was a mistake. I should have never become a doctor. I wish I could change things, but it seems too late."

Step 2:

Spend exactly 60 seconds feeling sorry for yourself. 1, 2, 3.... Poof - 60 seconds are over!

Step 3:

Ask yourself: what am I going to do about it?

Option 1 - do nothing.

Great! However, acknowledge that you are consciously making that decision?and learn to live with it, minus the pity.? There is liberty and beauty which come from?telling ourselves the truth. It's okay not wanting to do anything about any number?of issues in our lives. However, do make that decision with eyes wide open and consciously; that's a very adult thing to do - it's called taking responsibility.

Option 2 - do nothing but continue to mull it over while asking for more advice.?

Great! BUT acknowledge that you are just doing it for yourself because you like the attention you get from others when you are "thinking out loud." And that's okay, too.

Option 3 - do something.

Great! Break it down into manageable components and get to work. Pro tip: hire a coach and/or a personal trainer or another professional, depending on your goal.

Stick with the plan of action. Get your hands really dirty. Check in with yourself periodically - do I still want this (whatever it may be) badly enough??If the answer is yes - continue on your course. If the answer is no, correct the course of action.

The bottom line is don't hide behind anything, including overthinking. Just don't do it. You are wasting your time, which could be used to live your best life.

Here are many sources of inspiration for overthinkers, including:

• Learn how to recognize overthinking and how to stop it
• Read a great article on "3 Types of Overthinking.”
• Watch Daniel Pink's fabulous and?inspiring address?to Northwestern University graduates, where he makes the case for more doing and less thinking.
• Review research that showed more people regret things they didn't do than the things they did, even if things they did turned out badly.
• Listen to Mel Robbins' podcast episode called. "How To Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals"
• Get inspired by a recent Nike ad that said, "Yesterday, you said tomorrow."

And yes, in case you are wondering, there is such a thing as overdoing and under-thinking, which will land you in hot water. But that's for another post.?