Over the course of my speaking, training, and coaching career, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked about analysis paralysis.
Analysis paralysis is when overanalyzing or overthinking a situation causes decision-making to become “paralyzed,” meaning that no solution or course of action is decided upon within a reasonable time frame.
As often as I’ve been asked about overcoming it, I’ve experienced my fair share of it. Whether it was deciding what to wear on the first day of school or where to take my family to eat on a Friday night, I’ve encountered analysis paralysis.
THE BIG SHIFT: MY ADVENTURE IN 2018
In 2018, I was seeking adventure. I was single, with very few responsibilities (quite different from today!). I had just asked a few of my travel buddies where I should visit on a solo trip. Each of them said Australia. So there you have it. I decided to go to Australia… ALONE.
As I began to prepare for my solo trip, I started thinking about all the adventurous activities I wanted to do. First, I thought about shark diving. Yep, I’m going shark diving. Then, I thought about letting my hair down and jumping out of a plane. I hate heights, but sure, let’s jump out of a plane.
My trip was booked. I had my dates. I had my plane ticket. I had my hotel reservations. I was set.
About a week before I was leaving, I freaked out. I panicked and as fast as I could, I called all my reservations and tried to cancel them. Sadly, all my reservations were non-refundable (I should have read the small print). Going from panic about the trip, I went into panic about the non-refundable reservations. I was a mess. Not only was I not going, but I also wasn’t getting refunded for not going.
As I began to unpack some of my belongings, a thought came to me, and I’ll never forget it as long as I live: “Thomas, instead of focusing on jumping out of a plane, why don’t you focus on getting on one?” I was looking for adventure in the activities, and that freaked me out. Why not get on a plane and allow the adventure of being in a foreign country by yourself to be the adventure?
Once I took my mind off what adventures I would do once I got there and focused all my energy on GETTING THERE, I was much more relaxed and excited. As soon as my plane landed in Sydney, I had some nervous energy, but I just reminded myself that I wasn’t jumping out of a plane or shark diving. I was just on an adventure, and this exploration would be about myself and a new place.
YOUR PURSUIT OF GREATNESS
Is there a decision you need to make but overanalyzing has prevented you from doing anything about it?
- What is one step you can take this week to get closer to your decision?
- What’s the reward you will give yourself for taking action?
- How much weight will be lifted once you make the final decision?
Remember, taking a leap of faith starts with one small step. Focus on the first step rather than the entire journey. Embrace the adventure and trust the process. Your greatness awaits on the other side of that decision.
Here’s to overcoming analysis paralysis and embarking on your next great adventure!
