“Parachutes work regardless of your beliefs in gravity.” ～Kamal Ravikant
I was reading Kamal’s book, Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It, and this line jumped out and grabbed me.
It was both a reminder and a call to action.
I don’t know where the line is between over-thinker and full-on neurotic, but I know I’m on the spectrum somewhere. I believe most entrepreneurs are (correct me if you disagree). The ability to question some things is generally paired with the ailment of having to question everything.
The problem is that it’s pretty paralyzing.
As over-thinkers, we don’t realize this because we don’t view what happens to us as paralysis. We use words like due diligence or research. We trick ourselves into thinking we’re being productive when, in reality, we’re stuck.
We get stuck in the weeds and become unable to move forward when we aren’t discerning with what it is that we’re questioning.
This is the hard part for me.
Even as I write this, I’m getting pangs of fear in admitting that there are things I shouldn’t question. I’m about to use a scary word: faith.
This type of overthinking stems from a lack of faith. Not religious faith, but faith in processes, people, and (uh-oh) ourselves.
When we stop and try to think through every new inflection point, we massively inhibit our progress as we sit around reinventing wheels.
We need to fully integrate the fact that there are undeniable truths in life that don’t wait for our approval or comprehension.
You don’t question every single turn the GPS tells you to make. You monitor your general direction and then trust the process.
This doesn’t mean we accept every assertion every person offers every time (obviously).
However, you and I know that will never be a real danger. We’ll never be able to simply “turn off” our innate need to question things. But we can guard ourselves against it.
Here’s what’s really helped me: The next time you’re about to start obsessing over an issue, take a quick detour.
Go one layer deeper and ask if this is a time to ask questions or if this is a time to put your faith in the person or process that you’re about to rely on.
I still find this journey uncomfortable at times.
However, some resources are proving infinitely more valuable than I ever thought possible. But I never would have known had I not issued a little faith in the beginning.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
How do you strike a balance between critical thinking and trusting the process?