The Trap of Over Analyzing
Have you ever been at a point in your life where you feel like you are overthinking things?
Perhaps you are just a person in general that tends to over think? You like to look at things from every angle, put yourself in everyone else's shoes, and try to predict all the possible outcomes in a given situation.
Does that sound like you at all?
Well, sometimes that is a great ability to have, but sometimes it is not...
Let me tell you a little story about my favorite sports team that helps drive home that point.
To fully understand the significance of this story, lets go back to 2011. The Phoenix Suns held the 13th pick in the NBA Draft at the time. A spot they had become quite accustomed to drafting in. At the time they were a fringe playoff team in desperate need of a star to carry the torch being passed by Steve Nash.
During pre-draft workouts they were intrigued by the measurements of a certain Kawhi Leonard (you may have heard of him?!). He had ridiculous physical measurements for a small forward. Huge hands and a massive wing span (long arms). The only problem was that he played Power Forward in college and was going to have to make the transition to small forward in the pros.
He also could not shoot the 3 ball very well. Those fears combined to cause some scouts not to place his draft stock very high.
However, his defensive ability was off the charts. Clearly the best defender in the entire draft. His work ethic was unmatched, and his physical tools, as mentioned above, were second to none. These things kept him in the mind of the Phoenix Suns with their 13th overall selection...
But Then...
Something very strange happened when they conducted their pre-draft interview with Kawhi Leonard. During the interview Kawhi started to sweat... not just a little sweat here and there, he sweat a lot! He was sweating so bad that it was showing up through his suit and dripping off his face.
The Suns' draft scouts got together and said this guy doesn't have the mental make up to be a great player if he gets this nervous in pre-draft interviews. Yes he has great physical tools, but we can't draft him because of all this sweating...
That was basically the conclusion the Suns came to. Great talent, but we can't pick him because of the sweat... he doesn't have what it takes.
Sure enough, on draft night, the Suns passed on Kawhi and selected Markief Morris with the 13th pick and let Kawhi Loenard drop to the Spurs at number 15.
Markieff was not a bad player per say, but Kawhi has turned into an all world player. One of the best in the league. He is currently leading his team on a quest for a potential Championship while the suns are sitting at home watching the playoffs on TV. A place they have been for the last 7 years in a row, ever since that draft...
Had the suns not put so much emphasize on how much the guy sweats, they may have taken him at number 13 and completely changed the history of their franchise.
After all, who ever heard of sweat being a deciding factor in how good of a basketball player someone will eventually be?! It's ridiculous.
Let this be a cautionary tale for all of us to remember not to put too much emphasis on the things that don't matter. Focus on the things that do matter and make sure we do not over analyze things.
Live well my friends!
Sources:
Image Sources:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/over-analyzing-trap-gina-gallagher
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/over-thinking-quotes/
Follow me: @jrcornel
The neurotic mind can run on you and, if you are on its saddle not having it tamed under your open-mindedness and discriminatory diligence, you are risking big time...
Finding the balance in the right amount and sticking to the reality of things instead of imagining it makes a huge difference in one's life. Great write up again, thanks for sharing and namaste :)
Great points. Stay in the moment and worry about what you can control. That's it. Namaste ;)
i do it sometimes haha guilty one here :)
but I also learned to step on the breaks while on it so maybe it ain't considered over thinking anymore one can unlearn overthinking too
and not necessarily by meditation
sometimes you just have to let it be
and the less you care the happier you shall be
or maybe its better to say the less you worry :)
Haha no, being carefree is a very good way to look at life! Just worry about what you can control, no sense in worrying about what you cannot control. :)
exactly :)
I overthink everything...major stress case. Keeps me out of trouble though
Or does it get you into trouble?! ;)
I have made a lot of mistakes when i was young. So it keeps me out of trouble because i think everything through. But too much. Such so that it effects me. I get so far in my head and in the moment it can be very stressful.
I could see that. Well I am glad it is able to keep you out of trouble at least, even if it is causing some mental turmoil in the process. Best of luck to you!
haha thanks
Overthinking Kills..wait I am thinking again ;)
Stop it! You must stop it now! ;)
I think I can stop it. Wait..#Loop
Haha that is funny.... very clever!
;)
I have to remind myself of this daily.. :)
Does it help?
Sometimes, most of the time not and either way it slows things down, but I suppose that isn't always a bad thing. I guess it comes down to whether you over think but still make the right decision at the end of all that thinking, I like to think I mostly do :)
Well that is good news then!
To me over-analyzing in this sense is more of an inefficient sequence.
Considering a number of outcomes the mind focuses and re-focuses on the ones with least favorable prognosis.
Very true... it does not weigh all outcomes equally. Just the ones with the least favorable outcomes. Interesting point!
Possibly my favorite quote of all time, and one I need to tell MYSELF when my mind is fretting..."Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."
That's great! I hadn't heard that one before... I may steal it now though :)
Great post @jrcornel. Let me add that the real trap of over-analysing often comes from those who do not accept that the universe is rather a chaotic place to be. There are just way too many constituents at any given time.
Trying to extrapolate more than what the present bestows upon us often leads to false analysis and like you said, anxiety that "crashes" our system.
I guess this is the gut instinct evolved in such a way that often comes to overpower logic.
Yep, very well said. Plus it is just not very much fun to live that way ;)
Yeap. Those who are afraid of dying, paradoxically are afraid of living. This is how anxiety and depression evolve.
Interesting. I could see that though... They may not die, but they never really live either...
Look beyond the superficialities and try and identify the true essence of the person. Take a step back and look at the whole portrait before you make your conclusions. I think we are all perpetrators of this though at some points in our lives, somtimes subconsciously.
I think you are right... Great comment!
thank you, will follow, keep these coming
Thank you.
It's easy to get caught up thinking and never DOING. I'm more of a thinker not a doer..I need to get rid of that excuse 🙌