Ever caught yourself ‘overthinking’ something?
Easily done.
But there’s a powerful realisation we can make about how else we could view “over-thinking”.
Another word we could use that could help us question our approach.
Guessing.
When something is certain, we don’t overthink it.
How much time do you spend thinking about stuff that is just a fact?
Not much.
If you knew for absolute sure that the thing you’re considering doing would lead to the outcome you desire, would you do it?
You apply for that promotion, you’ll definitely get it.
You run that new project at work, it’ll definitely be a success.
You launch your ‘side hustle’ or set up that business you’ve dreamt of and it’ll definitely work.
You ask that person out and they’ll definitely say yes.
You go for that workout, you’ll definitely feel better.
You change your eating and you’ll definitely lose that weight and have more energy.
If the outcome was certain, we’d do those things we’ve put off, wouldn’t we?
When we keep thinking about things it’s because we lack confidence in the outcome being what we want it to be.
We want certainty.
We want guarantees.
Uncertainty makes us feel uncomfortable.
We put things off.
We keep “thinking about it”.
Overthinking.
Guessing.
Usually what underpins this guessing is going too many “steps” down the line.
We can usually feel pretty confident about the result of the next step, based on experience.
But when we’re thinking 10 steps down the line, we lose that confidence.
It feels less certain.
So, when we feel we’re ‘overthinking’…
When we’re putting off decisions…
When we’re not doing what we feel we should (or, deep down, want to)…
Can we just take that ‘next step’?
Make a somewhat better food choice next time we’re faced with it.
Take the first step – talk to your boss, register the name, start the thing.
If the number of steps down the line we’re thinking of leaves us in uncertainty…
Leaves us, essentially, guessing…
Pull it back a number of steps to a decision you have sufficient confidence over.
And just do that thing for now.
Stop guessing. Take the next step.
Much love,
Jon ‘I saw Steps play at the end of my Fresher’s Week at Uni’ Hall
P.S. The next step that many called “one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself is here –> www.myrise.co.uk/apply
