BRUCE: For me, overthinking involves trying to project the outcome of a decision, while figuring out how to avoid the worst-case scenario. It overcomplicates things, often burying the original problem.
A high-level example: Do I continue living in New York, where money is paramount to quality of life? Finding work at my age is difficult, and it means spending my whole life in one place. Or move to a new city, where I don’t have friends, lack familiarity, and need to expend a massive effort to create a new life?
A low-level example: I bought a new leather jacket. I spent one week researching online and another analyzing the cost (amortized over years, compared to other expenses, rationalizing the value). Then I saw an ad, liked their jackets and prices—but it was a new company. So I called customer service to discuss it for 30 minutes, mulled it over for two more days, and finally bought one. It’s awesome, but “analysis paralysis” consumed two weeks of my life.
DEB: I often overthink when asked to commit to something. Can I write a reported story in two weeks? If not, will this editor not see me as reliable? If so, am I setting myself up for unrealistic expectations in the future? Should I join the advisory board of my daughter’s competitive athletic team? If I say yes, I’ll be in the owners’ good graces, gain a better understanding of the sport, and bond more with my daughter. But, saying yes might pull me further from my list of “big things to undertake once my youngest is finally in kindergarten.”
I can usually create a (self-) convincing court-ready argument in no time to support my decision, but the moment I commit, I immediately second guess myself.
LEANNE: I used to think I had a sixth sense born out of surviving a traumatic childhood. Growing up, there was no time for overthinking, so I had to trust my intuition. I now understand that dyslexia is a spectrum disorder that often coincides with ADHD, and that my brain is “hard-wired” differently. That difference results in strengths like critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills. I envision outcomes with imaginary blinders on that keep me focused on my goals. That’s not to say that outside forces don’t pose challenges, just that I spend very little time overthinking.
