Weighing the pros and cons.........thinking too much a thing

Sukumar- I do think one can "think" too much on any given situation. Perhaps that is one danger in being a highly evolved creature who does this. I tend to believe that one should plan when necessary, but not spend countless hours worryng about things that may or may not even occur. If we spend all of our energy upon what never comes to pass, we will miss the present, and spend more time regretting missed opportunities. Namaste-Anora

Of course you have to use discretion when deciding how much time to spend when making decisions. Each decsision requires a different amount of time to think about things. Something like what you are going to eat is not going to be as difficult a decisiosn as something like what car to buy. What car to buy is less important than who to marry, but no matter what decisiosn, I think everyone goes through some sort of decisiosn making process for everything whether they even realize it or not.

A very intelligent and great question. Kudos to you! In my opinion, I would rather ponder circumstances and situations BEFORE I assume ro say something because 8 times out of 10, when an individual acts hasty and jump to conclusions, their assumptions and conclusions are often wrong.

Well, Sukumar, there are limits, but they're not well defined. Obsessing over a thing is almost always a disaster. Thinking through the "what-ifs" and the "yes, buts" can clarify our thoughts or lead to a total meltdown. It's how we see each instance that makes all the difference!

I would like to give some food for thought here. First of, and I really wish I remember where I read/heard this so I could cite a reference. We make the decisions first, then we try to rationalize them. But, the decision is made in the first 3 seconds after the chose is presented, whether we know it or not. Second. And this is a quote from Napoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich; Successful people make up there mind quickly, and change it slowly if at all, and unsuccessful people, make up there minds slowly, and change it often. Just some things to think about. Cheers.

It is wise to analyse the pros and cons of the everything..but should be able to draw the line between thinking and thinking too much...

thinking before acting is prudent, but indecision is crippling!

it is always better to think from the practical aspect rather than being carried away by emotions,so i find it better to take the advice of a trusted friend,i am too emotional!

I believe there is such a thing as "over thinking" an issue. Of course one has to know the facts as best as possible but like you say too much doesn't help. I have found that in a lot of cases "gut instinct" seems to be more often right than if I stew over something. Of course I don't always pay attention to the gut instinct and end up overdoing it.

If the decision is a big one which affects one greatly or many parties, it pays to weigh the pros and cons. If it is just a minor decision, I do agree on why waste time pondering over it. Thinking is never too much. It exercises the brain. lol.

When something is very clear and we know what we have to do and what is right then ther eis no need of too much thinking, but when some matter needs thinking again and again, then there is something attracting us to do that work, either it is heart matters, or wealth or name or fame attracting us to do something worng or unlikely things....in such cases though we think too much about the pros and cons, we go for doing it and thus unlikely things happen in the world.....only those who are successful to take the right decision, right not only by our thinking, but right according to morals, ethics etc, then that person wins.

I agree with you that after weighing the pros and cons of a potential decision, further thinking and imagining "what ifs" would likely just keep us from moving forward. In a way it's simple procrastination on taking action.

Over analysing can lead to paralysing indecision. I admit I have not been too good when making decisions in the past. Nowadays I try to weigh the pros and cons and the likelihood of all consequences. I usually imagine the worst case scenario and ask myself whether I am prepared to live with the costs of any risks I may have to take.

I usually before making a decision try to analyze not only the pros and the cons of a situation but also the possible outcome that might happen. I have done this on several occasions and have taken quite longer in making a decision instead of just thinking for a bit and coming up with an answer. Not to the point of confusion but I have been torn apart between two decisions and which one would be the best for a given situation. I can point out that one of my faults is over analyzing in order to come up with a decision and this in itself is a blessing and a curse.

Seem to me that you are thinking too much... lol Analysing things is a good thing... But you need to draw the line and take a calculated risk. If you were to analyse the dangers of driving a car... you would never drive a car... let alone buy one. It really comes down to your own self-confidence. You need to learn what you can handle. You need to learn to make a decision. It is one thing to analyse. But if you spend your whole life analysing things... You will never do anything. We live in a challenging world. And there is an element of risk in everything we do. If you don't take the risk... you get nothing.

Yes, I agree, thinking about something too much can cause confusion. What I tend to do is to weigh up the pros and cons just once, make my decision and commit to it. The human mind always presents a variety of choices about something, and will easily change from one thing to another because preferences change - Derek

Hello sukumar794! When people think too much and they become paranoid, that can be scary. When people think too much and leads to insanity, that can be scarier. I think that there are those who think too much that it leads to them being pessimist. I think that it is important that we should know when to relax. Sometimes our mind also needs to rest.

It is possible to think too much about something. You begin to second-guess yourself--that is, you've made a decision but then keep thinking about it and begin questioning your choices. What if you do this and thus happens? You can really cripple yourself that way! Discipline yourself to make a decision then not think about it for at least 24 hours. Give yourself time to think it over but not to cripple yourself.

that is very much true. thinking too much of a problem can create more problems. i like to think that we can thnk better if we relax our mind and don't think too much negatively specially if there is no basis to think so. if there is reason to think hegatively we have to believe that there are still answers in every situation.

Hi sukumar! I think that by thinking on something to long that it may get in the way of our first instincts which can sometimes be very important. I think that things should be thought over but not to the extent of confusion that you are speaking of. I agree with you.