How to break the paralysis of analysis

The paralysis of analysis is when we get stuck looking at problems and not actually doing anything.  It’s the endless cycles of what if’s or shoulda woulda couldas that get us stuck.  So how to we break out when we get stuck?

Start trying stuff

The key way we break out of the paralysis of analysis is to actually do something.  You don’t move forward unless you are moving forward.  Wow… and yes that’s from a PhD scholar.  Building your way takes a step.  One at a time.  See, while you are cooking up ways of doing nothing your problem is gaining the upper hand on you.  Oh yes, problems are like weeds.  Leave them alone for long enough and you will be overgrown.  Think about it.

Trade stuff off OR Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a load of BS

Since I can remember I have been FORCED to sit through people explaining Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.   Can I say that’s it’s a load of old BS:

You will never be totally complete.  There will always be something you could trade in order to secure something else.   For example, people I know will trade experience and fun for safety of employment.  Stability is the  furtherest thing from their minds.  All they want to do is travel, have fun and trade a regular secure environment for a unstable one.  Facts are so easily recreated and changed for a more ‘convenient’ truth.  When you are stuck in the paralysis of analysis you often find yourself trying to create something to believe in that will stop you from taking action.  Instead of trying to meet the need trade something for it.   What do I mean?  If you want to be an entrepreneur you have trade stability for periods of instability.  You want to be a teacher or an academic you have to trade ’spare time’ for lesson preparation and so on.   Think what will I have to trade off in order to break this analytical cycle?  It could be a belief about the plan that is nestled on your fears about personal security.  Let me put you at ease.  There is no such thing as personal security.  You could lose it all anyway without even trying.  That said, don’t be stupid.

A trick I have learned that stops the paralysis of analysis

Take out a piece of paper and write down the thing you would do if you could do it.  What?  Scenario:

You are a bartender.  A man who is extremely drunk comes up to the bar and orders another drink.  Do you:

A) throw him out

B) think about what to do and stare blankly at the drunk man

C) serve him the drink

D) Say nothing and run away.

Answer?  What’s the first thing that pops into your head?  Don’t give him any more to drink.  Why?  It’s common sense.  Note, he’s a liability to himself, you and the other patrons.  You serve him and it may not cost you this time but next time it could very well cost you.  To get that answer I just wrote down the first thing that came to me without really thinking about it.  I was reminded of the law in Australia which says as much and thought it reasonable.   You can do this as well.   Of course this is a simple answer.  If you are on the end of a gun aiming at someone you may have different things to trade off!

Finally, if you are stuck in the paralysis of analysis it’s simply because you have too many answers floating around in your head.  There are too many ‘what if’s’ or ‘coulda beens’ or ‘this should happen’ or ‘that should happen’.  I think John Lennon said it best, ‘Life is what happens when your busy making plans’.

Powered by MightyAdsense

Subscribe to lukehoughton.com