I recently finished listening to the audiobook for The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. I scored Questioner, which means I fall into the general category of people who need a good reason to do something. (Note: I don’t believe it’s possible to neatly package people into four categories, but I do believe there are patterns worth noting – which made this a really interesting book for me.)
In her book, Gretchen Rubin shares how analysis paralysis is one of the dark sides of the questioner tendency. It was a relief for me to hear that there are others out there who struggle to make a decision. Just on the day of writing this post, I spent an hour trying on clothes in search of comfortable pants to wear at home and left the store with nothing.
This translates to blog work as well. Sometimes, I’ll stare at the screen wondering what to say or how best to put my thoughts to words. Before I know it, a few weeks have flown by, and I still have yet to say what I wish to say.
Other days, I worry that I don’t have enough to say.
So I decided to make this post as a form of encouragement to myself, and anyone else out there struggling with analysis paralysis. To remind us that progress, not perfection, matters. And not to let fear stop us from doing what matters.
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Do you struggle with analysis paralysis? How do you work through it?
Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughts says
I agree – one shouldn’t package people into one particular category when it comes to personality traits since usually people will have similarities to other categories as well and one just seems to stick out more. Oooooo I wonder what tendency I would, though Questioner sounds like something I would fall in as well. I’m a perfectionist as well – I struggle with making a decision with everything, including with blogging (maybe this is why I take weeks to write a review, LOL).
Over the years though, I’ve learned to accept that I’m going to make mistakes the first time, though I still have difficulty making decisions and take awhile to write a post as I stare at a blank screen.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
I hadn’t heard of The Four Tendencies, but I have a feeling I’d fall into the camp of Analysis Paralysis as well. In fact, I can think of one major area of my life right now where I’m suffering from it. 🙂
Melliane says
I just bought the first book and I need to try it!
Donna says
I sometimes struggle with getting the words right when I write book reviews. Particularly when a book has been especially poignant or beautifully written. I’m glad I’m not alone as analysis paralysis is different than writer’s block but that is all you usually hear about when having trouble writing.