Can you think too much?
August 16, 2008
I, like of millions of others, have been captivated by the Olympics. There is something about having our finest sportspeople and athletes compete fiercely then shake hands at the end that stirs the imagination.
In flicking through the reports of the
‘China’s New Jersey Net power forward Yi Jianlian blamed the loss on hesitant play down the stretch, saying his team-mates were thinking too much. We started thinking too much and when you start thinking too much you start making mistakes,’ Yi said.
This is such an interesting comment the idea that you can think too much. Presumably what Yi meant what that by thinking too much you ignore your natural instincts, you procrastinate and become hesitant. Suddenly you become overwhelmed with the pros and cons of every option. This feeling reminded of Julia Cameron’s (Author, The Artists Way) insight, thinking is not the enemy, but overthinking is.’
This is one reason why Speed Thinking is a very effective process to help in the decision-making process. In giving little time and perhaps a speed thinking tool you often become focused on the task at hand and sometimes the decision becomes crystal clear. The limited time seems to encourage you to listen to your emotional or unconscious brain and avoid the endless loop of rational analysis. I have also found in my workshops that when you ask people for a decision and in fact demand that they make one in two minutes they always can. They have to rely on their own instincts and not wait for the crowd.
Speed Thinking works on a four step process of Start, Build, Evaluate and Do. The first and last stages are the most important. You have to start and not procrastinate and you eventually have to ‘Do’ something — it could be to research the concept, test the decision or keep doing what you are already doing. But the important point is to do something.
As Goethe told us, ‘whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do, begin it, because action has magic, grace and power in it.’
Comments
One Response to “Can you think too much?”
Got something to say?
41af4s919lpc5i9f