Breaking the Cycle: Finding Balance Between Overthinking and Impulsivity.

We tend to use one of these two methods regularly in our lives. The problem is that neither of them is balanced. To demonstrate my point, I will use one of my metaphors. I love using this method because it puts a picture to the words.

Let's imagine that three friends go to a café. The first one doesn't even think, and orders the first thing he sees on the menu, and goes to sit down. The second one can't decide, he's not sure what the best option is, so he lets the third one order. The third one had already made a selection in his head before arriving: no caffeine after 2pm. So he chooses an option that suits him. The third person finally ends up having the same thing as the second person.

If we look at our three friends, we could think that the first and the second one were efficient. But in reality, the first one, not having looked at the menu, was disappointed to see that he had a "coffee of the day" that he could have taken. What can we learn from this little story?

Overthinking and impulsivity are two behaviors that can be very detrimental to our emotional and mental well-being. Overthinking can cause us to second guess every decision we make, which can lead to procrastination and inaction. On the other hand, impulsiveness can lead us to make hasty decisions and act without thinking about the consequences.

The idea is to find the right balance between these two behaviors. But how do we get there?

1. It is important to understand why we are driven to use these extreme behaviors. Overthinking can be related to anxiety and fear of making wrong decisions, whileimpulsivity can be related to insecurity and the need to control a situation.. Becoming aware of these hidden emotions is an important first step in finding a balance.
2. One option for accessing these underlying emotions is to practice mindfulness and self-observationMindfulness allows us to step back and observe our thoughts and emotions without judging themThis can help us identify when we are overthinking or being impulsive. Self-observation involves asking ourselves questions about our behaviors and motivations. This can help us understand why we act a certain way and find ways to change those behaviors.
3. Finally, it is essential to learn to practice conscious decision makingThis means taking the time to consider all the options and possible consequences before making a decision. This can be difficult for those who tend to be impulsive, but it can help avoid costly mistakes and long-term regret. On the other hand, for those who tend to overthink, it's important not to get too caught up in the details and let the fear of making a decision paralyze them.

I can understand that finding the right balance may seem difficult... But it is a challenge that is worth it! Let's imagine, that through these efforts, we improve our emotional and mental well-being. The idea is that when we feel good, emotionally and mentally, everything around us seems easier to live, to manage, to understand. By practicing mindfulness, self-observation and conscious decision making, we give ourselves the opportunity to find this balance.

Life is like that: balanced. When it is not, everything seems more complicated. But we all have, in our hands, the possibility to restore this balance. The only small concern (which is not really a concern) is that it requires an investment, a commitment, a will.