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Comment by ThomPete | Hacker News Reader

Overanalyzing happens when there seem to be a right answer between several competing answers. But this is the point where you need to stop thinking and start feeling.

Your intuition is as important an analytical tool and the best executioners have a natural balance between analyzing and intuition.

So if you know you are overanalyzing stop thinking and start feeling.

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A "right answer between competing answers" just sounds like a high-entropy belief state over the correct action to take. This doesn't mean you're overanalyzing, it means you don't have enough information to be sure of your decision. If that's the case, you won't get anywhere by analyzing more (although more research may help); "feeling" will just let you be overconfident in whatever you come up with, because you won't understand or question how you came up with it.

It doesn't mean you are but you most probably are.

Furthermore I would claim that very rarely is it the case that you just don't have enough information if you have analyzing something. So in theory you are right but in reality it's never really the case.

And it will be easier to deal with failure because you did what believed in. Less regrets.

How would one 'start feeling', exactly? I often get the impression that my feelings lag behind my rational thought, and I'm not sure how to go about changing that.

Meditation is a way, it needs a bit of training but with some sound guidance and regular practice you can get some good results in a few weeks or so and they're really worth it. Apart from that: Do something else. Have a walk. Eat some kale ice cream. And maybe you'll find Burroughs' word to be true: "Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer."

Thanks! I've started with meditation and it does seem to help. Or at least it doesn't hurt and forces my mind to relax, even if just for ten minutes. Changing up my behavioral patterns is also something I'm working on.

Very helpful answer, thanks!

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