The Downside of Self-Evaluation

Analysis paralysis.  I came across this concept for the first time a few years back.  It refers to a danger that all managers/leaders/individuals face when evaluating information in making a decision.  The danger is to become so bogged down in looking at the data and factors behind a decision, you become paralyzed and incapable of making any decision at all.  As if often the case, the more important the decision, the more information we want.  The more information we gather, the more difficult the decision becomes.  In our quest to mitigate the uncertainty in life, we end up guaranteeing its existence in our minds.

This analysis paralysis is also true in our quest for self-discovery.  We take tests, speak with mentors, read books, and attend conferences all to discover who it is we really are.  The problem is that we can become so consumed with trying to discover who we really are, that we miss the most important aspect of that discovery.  Action.  At some point we have to stop the analysis and start doing something.  It is through action that our true selves will emerge.  It is through action that we discover our gifts, and passions.  This sort of life-changing information does not exist in a book, it exists through experience.  

The lesson I am learning is simple.  If I want to truly discover who I am, I need to get involved in life.