OVERTHINKING IS THE BIGGEST WASTE OF HUMAN ENERGY

Tennis legend, Arthur Ashe, once famously said, "There is a syndrome in sports called paralysis by analysis."

In simple terms, paralysis by analysis is a state of over-analyzing a situation, which often leads to poor execution.

Ashe himself fell victim to paralysis by analysis on occasions. For instance, he faced Jimmy Connors (known for his aggressive style of play) 7 times in his career, winning only once. Ashe was so focused on strategizing to defeat Connors that he often ended up making a number of unforced errors.

However, Ashe eventually learned to overcome his tendency to overthink his performance, paving the way for him to win two more Grand Slam titles.

The phenomenon of overthinking one's performance isn't confined to sports; it significantly affects our professional lives as well.

So, how can one overcome overthinking?

The answer to this question comes from a college administrator and part-time tennis coach, Timothy Gallwey, who wrote a book that profoundly influenced how professional athletes train. The book, 'Inner Game of Tennis', focused less on technical aspects such as grips and swings, and more on the mental state of a player.

Gallwey suggested that people should stop overthinking about playing well and instead, quieten their minds. He believed that self-doubt, criticism, and lack of focus become hurdles in our performance. We all have an inner voice that points out our flaws and pushes us to improve. Giving in to these thoughts can affect our performance. By calming our mind, we silence this inner voice, which lets us focus only on what we're doing without judging ourselves. So, Gallwey sees relaxed concentration as the key to good tennis.

Given Ashe's story and Gallwey's philosophy, how do you think overthinking can be addressed in our work lives?

LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anujmagazine_overthinking-is-the-biggest-waste-of-human-activity-7068042586858405888-9feJ/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop