Overthinking your next step? You're not alone
Image by Unsplash
One of the most common challenges that many of my clients face is overthinking.
It can sound like:
“What if I make the wrong choice?”
“I feel stuck.”
“I know what I want, but have no idea how to get it.”
“I just need a plan, then I’ll act.”
“If I was certain of success, then I’d actually do it.”
If this sounds like you, I can relate. As an introvert who coaches many other introverts, I know how natural it is to rely on thinking as our primary tool. We love to reflect, analyze, plan and prepare. We don’t leave home without a strategy.
Being thoughtful and strategic is a strength. But like any strength, it can be over-used. When it does, it can prevent us from taking the steps needed to create the career and life that we want.
For example, the Birkman Assessment helped me recognize my own blind spot. On the surface, I appear to make decisions quickly. But when it comes to big choices, I need time to consider every angle. Recently, I realized that this habit was holding me back from creating the career that I want.
If you suspect overthinking might be keeping you stuck, try this:
Identify an area of your life where you feel stuck.
Ask yourself: Am I mistaking thinking for action?
Using your intuition, choose one small step forward and do it before you can talk yourself out of it.
The legendary creativity teacher Julia Cameron calls this “filling the form,” or taking the next small step instead of skipping ahead to a big step that you might not even be prepared for. The truth is, most real progress happens this way: gradually, incrementally, step by step.
If you're a chronic overthinker like me, you may have to be more intentional about moving into action. But it gets easier with practice, and momentum builds faster than you think.