Think less. Do more. What does it really mean?

Hello lovely readers! Thank you for giving me so much love on my last post. Goes without saying, there is nothing better than the love of your family <3

So today we’re talking about this amazing piece of advice that’s been floating around for years. “Think less, and do more.” While it may seem self-explanatory at the first sight, I'll try to break it down for those of you who might agree with it but don’t necessarily know how to apply it for yourself.

While knowing concepts in the first step, application is the key!

So what does it really mean to think less? Assume you’ve been thinking of doing something, whether it is waking up early morning, starting a fitness routine, starting a beauty routine, thinking about sending that message to a friend, or even starting up on a project or company in itself. Obviously, it first comes as a random thought, and then if the idea appeals to you, you start thinking about it consciously.

For the first few days, it feels exciting. Because you start thinking about all the great outcomes of it and how you’ve always wanted to do it. You’re quite pumped up and just the idea of doing this starts making you happier.

You think about the different ways in which you can do it, and what all you’ll need to make it happen. You even plan what time of the day you’ll do it, and start daydreaming about the beautiful outcomes.

And then, comes the critical moment.

THIS is precisely the moment when you should start acting upon it! You have the basics in place - a strong intent, and a rough idea of how to start. That is all you need!

But what do we find ourselves doing instead? We think. And think. And think some more.

Ever tried to catch your thoughts in that phase? Usually, it goes 2 ways. First, you start uncovering the challenges of doing that thing, or all the problems that you will face, or maybe even about what it is that people will think. Or, you just keep thinking about what you’ve already thought in circles. SO basically, you get stuck in your own thoughts.

And then comes the devil. These thoughts start paralysing you. You start telling yourself how you’ll never make it or will be made fun of or you don’t know how to solve that one problem so what’s the point anyway?

I’m narrating all of this from personal experience. It has all happened with me. And this is what I realised.

Whenever you are thinking of doing something for the first time, you will never know everything. In fact, if you know just about how to get started, consider yourself lucky!

Once you start with whatever information you have, you start building momentum and as you gain experience in doing that task, you yourself find creative solutions to the problems that come your way.

Imagine it like this. Let’s say you’re standing in the middle of a road which curves to the right at some distance. If you know this road takes you to your destination, and are feeling unsure about what lies after the curve, what do you do?

Either you stand there and think about all the wrong things that lie ahead of the curve and how you’ll never reach your destination because of them and ultimately get tired and quit. Or, you take your first few steps, and you tell yourself, ‘Hey. Let me just get to the curve and see what happens. Once I see the road further from there, I’ll decide what to do.’

And slowly, by just seeing the road a little further ahead, you keep moving and crossing the barriers.

Which approach leads you to a likelihood of making it to your destination?

I read somewhere about how humans have survival instincts. Which means they are constantly thinking of all the things that can go wrong and protecting themselves.

While planning is absolutely legit, just constantly thinking and rethinking the same things again and again without any addition of a thought is just delaying action. In fact, this is a great way to recognise when you’re falling in that cycle. If you feel you’ve been thinking about something for quite sometime and have not come up with any new information in the last 7 days, it is time for action!

Because your thought process will evolve further from what you already know only once you get an external stimulus now.

And once you start taking action, it just keeps progressing from there.

So next time you find yourself overthinking about something, ask yourself if your thoughts have evolved over the last few days. If not, then start doing!

Don’t let your instincts stop you from achieving that next thing in life.

Jai Jinendra.

(P.S. If you have any questions you can put them in the comments below and I’d be happy to answer <3)