Thinking too much should come with a warning label, “Proceed with Caution”, or maybe, “Enter at your own risk”. I heard it said that sometimes the worst place to be is in your head. Why do we think so much? What to do next for our business? How to become a better friend? What to do to be a great mom?
I can definitely relate to this! I’ve found that when I’m stuck in my head-overthinking things-I have to get up and physically move! A long walk, a run or a concert, preferably with dancing and laughing involved -anything to physically shift the energy to other parts of my body usually helps!
I absolutely agree. Isn't perfectionism a mechanism to protect ourselves from failure? Well, I guess if we don't do anything at all, we can't fail. But that's, most likely, a misconception because if we overthink everything and don't get to doing things, then we can't win anything either. Luckily, it seems as though the trend is moving away from all the styled, perfect-life imagery we've seen on social media (particularly Instagram) over the last years - and that's a good thing to take the pressure off a bit. After all, we're all just human and "done is better than perfect", right?
This is something I struggle with too. Sometimes my newsletters are more than a week late because I'm just - not finding the - *something* - to launch the damn thing into the world.
But two years in, I think I'm starting to learn what my brain is doing. Sometimes it feels like I'm procrastinating or just being timid, where *actually* what I'm doing is recognising that the newsletter I have is a good 65-75% idea, and deep down I think it has the potential to be a rocking 80% or upwards. So I hang onto it, and create delays that force me to do what I think of as "circling the writing": doing more reading, interrogating myself, trying to bring something new into it, some extra ingredient to make a new flavour, or colour to make a new shade. And it's still the work. It's still working on it.
This isn't always true. Sometimes I'm kidding myself and I should just hit publish. But - most of the time, the pieces that I've held onto "for too long" while I circled the writing for days and days, they're the ones that get the most comments, shares and engagement (and paid signups). They're the good stuff. Something is working.
I suspect none of this is remotely useful to anyone and I'm just jawing because I like the sound of my own voice. But just wanted to say: I feel this too. So often. Maybe all the time. And pretty much everyone I've talked to feels it too. So maybe it's not a sign something's not coming together in your mind. Maybe it's the opposite?
Love this so much. And think (haha) it has to do with getting older, realizing that life is not infinite, and wanting to make the best of this time we have on earth ... But agree, "Just DO it" is the answer. Thank you for putting your thoughts into my inbox!!!
Such a timely post! I usually do a creative-based task or go for a nature walk to help me focus on something else. As noted below, “done is better than perfect”… a good mantra for us over-thinkers :)
Oh my goodness Holly, I can so relate to this as well. Especially lately as I embarked on new subject matter in my painting. I definitely find being in nature or exercising helps shift resistance providing that "can do" attitude. When the mind gets stuck, it really is helpful to shift into a different activity in order to jolt it out of that rut. Thanks for sharing! xx
I wrestle with perfectionist tendencies, too, and what I’ve found helpful is to ask myself what evolutionary use they may have had and then recognise that they may not be useful anymore. For example, you can imagine how perfectionism may have helped early humans optimise their stone tools, tweak their shelter to maximise comfort for them and their families, etc. But in our current age of abundance, we have so many opportunities that it’s more important to try a lot of things and see what works. The whole exercise helps me be compassionate with myself, give myself permission to feel what I’m feeling and then let it go.
Loved this article. There was so much to relate to. And while I do understand the root cause of over thinking yet I'm unable to bring myself to that point of taking action without thinking it out over and over again. It just feels next to impossible to take that leap of faith and get into the mode of JUST DO IT!
Solidarity!
So well put, Holly! I can definitely relate!
I can definitely relate to this! I’ve found that when I’m stuck in my head-overthinking things-I have to get up and physically move! A long walk, a run or a concert, preferably with dancing and laughing involved -anything to physically shift the energy to other parts of my body usually helps!
I absolutely agree. Isn't perfectionism a mechanism to protect ourselves from failure? Well, I guess if we don't do anything at all, we can't fail. But that's, most likely, a misconception because if we overthink everything and don't get to doing things, then we can't win anything either. Luckily, it seems as though the trend is moving away from all the styled, perfect-life imagery we've seen on social media (particularly Instagram) over the last years - and that's a good thing to take the pressure off a bit. After all, we're all just human and "done is better than perfect", right?
Brilliant article. Thanks Holly. A great read!
This is something I struggle with too. Sometimes my newsletters are more than a week late because I'm just - not finding the - *something* - to launch the damn thing into the world.
But two years in, I think I'm starting to learn what my brain is doing. Sometimes it feels like I'm procrastinating or just being timid, where *actually* what I'm doing is recognising that the newsletter I have is a good 65-75% idea, and deep down I think it has the potential to be a rocking 80% or upwards. So I hang onto it, and create delays that force me to do what I think of as "circling the writing": doing more reading, interrogating myself, trying to bring something new into it, some extra ingredient to make a new flavour, or colour to make a new shade. And it's still the work. It's still working on it.
This isn't always true. Sometimes I'm kidding myself and I should just hit publish. But - most of the time, the pieces that I've held onto "for too long" while I circled the writing for days and days, they're the ones that get the most comments, shares and engagement (and paid signups). They're the good stuff. Something is working.
I suspect none of this is remotely useful to anyone and I'm just jawing because I like the sound of my own voice. But just wanted to say: I feel this too. So often. Maybe all the time. And pretty much everyone I've talked to feels it too. So maybe it's not a sign something's not coming together in your mind. Maybe it's the opposite?
Love this so much. And think (haha) it has to do with getting older, realizing that life is not infinite, and wanting to make the best of this time we have on earth ... But agree, "Just DO it" is the answer. Thank you for putting your thoughts into my inbox!!!
Such a timely post! I usually do a creative-based task or go for a nature walk to help me focus on something else. As noted below, “done is better than perfect”… a good mantra for us over-thinkers :)
Oh my goodness Holly, I can so relate to this as well. Especially lately as I embarked on new subject matter in my painting. I definitely find being in nature or exercising helps shift resistance providing that "can do" attitude. When the mind gets stuck, it really is helpful to shift into a different activity in order to jolt it out of that rut. Thanks for sharing! xx
I wrestle with perfectionist tendencies, too, and what I’ve found helpful is to ask myself what evolutionary use they may have had and then recognise that they may not be useful anymore. For example, you can imagine how perfectionism may have helped early humans optimise their stone tools, tweak their shelter to maximise comfort for them and their families, etc. But in our current age of abundance, we have so many opportunities that it’s more important to try a lot of things and see what works. The whole exercise helps me be compassionate with myself, give myself permission to feel what I’m feeling and then let it go.
Loved this article. There was so much to relate to. And while I do understand the root cause of over thinking yet I'm unable to bring myself to that point of taking action without thinking it out over and over again. It just feels next to impossible to take that leap of faith and get into the mode of JUST DO IT!