10 Reasons You're An Overthinker, by Dan Rockwell, Leadership Freak

10 reasons you’re an overthinker

By Dan Rockwell

73 percent of 25-35 year-olds  and 52 percent of 45-55 year-olds overthink. (Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Univ. of Michigan)

*****

Yesterday the garage installed studded snow tires on my truck. I’m ready to battle the steep wintery hill that leads to our home in central Pennsylvania.

A few times in past winters, the hill handed me a crushing defeat and I perilously slid down its dangerously slick surface. But not this year! This year I’ve got traction.

Get traction by thinking less

Every day at 4:50 my coach calls me with a series of questions. Here’s one, “Did you spend time thinking about the future?” A few weeks ago I thought that was an insightful question. After all, when our memories exceed our dreams the end is near. Today, I think it’s dumb.

Focus on thinking, you’ll get more thinking.
Focus on doing, you’ll get results.

*****

Ten reasons you overthink

#1. Thinking is safe.

#2. Thinking feels like doing even though it isn’t.

#3. Thinking makes you look smart.

#4. Thinking helps you prepare solutions for imaginary problems.

#5. You fear not having an answer.

#6. You don’t trust yourself enough to find solutions as you go.

#7. Your organization is filled with people protecting their turf.

#8. Fear of failure rather than passion drives you.

#9. You speculate about the motives of others.

#10. You don’t know where you’re going.

Traction action

I’m asking my coach to ask a new question. “What did you do today that builds your preferred future?” That’s a “studded snow tire” question.

*****

Why do people spend too much time thinking?

Thinking is necessary, how much is enough?

How do you get results?