Do not be scared to think (but don’t over do it either)
Have you ever noticed how the language and act of "thinking" often reigns supreme? In our education systems, in the world of work, certainly it’s needed in problem solving and decision making. As someone whose first career was in research and insights, I would say this is a critical skill, and is absolutely necessary to be good at those sort of jobs.
And it permeates in every area of life. For example in response to a question or request we are unsure of we automatically say “let me think about it” or “let me think it over”…
And while sometimes thinking is precisely what is needed, often we over use and rely on this skill and langiage as a default - and its limiting.
What if our need to rationalise and analyse everything is actually hindering our progress in the wider context of life?
From thoughts into words
Recently in a session with my coach, I laughed as I said “I think, I think, I think”
You see I’d been recounting my reaction to something that had happened, it was all about how I felt and how I experienced a new state that I was in. Thinking didn’t really come into it at all, and yet every part of the story I couched with “I think”
I THINK I felt like it was a good experience for me
I THINK what I learned was xyz
Every time I uttered the words “I think” I could feel a sense of hesitation into what I was sharing - like I wasn’t even sure of what I felt or what I learned, that maybe it could be seen to be right or wrong so I was hedging my bets
What I realised was that framing everything as a thought, was limiting my experience of it. My language was literally forcing my description to be far more narrow than it truly was in reality and inviting me to quetsion myself (and over think!) even more.
Maybe you can relate?
How often do you use “I think” when you are responding to a question or telling a story or sharing an experience? If you’re anything like me I bet it is peppered in there so much you don’t even realise it!
As a fun fact, when writing this blog, I’ve had to delete the words “I think” at least 7 times. That is just how engrained it is for me, and I’ve been practicing widening my vocabulary already!
Trying different language to break the spell
So how can we begin to shift our language and mindset away from "I think" and towards a more holistic approach to problem-solving?
It starts with paying attention to our words and their underlying implications.
Instead of saying, "I think we should do X," try reframing it as, "I learned from past experiences that Y might be worth considering," or "I felt a sense of clarity when I approached it from Z angle."
By inviting language that acknowledges our emotions, experiences, and intuition, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities.
When I described it to my coach I said it felt like a “subtle spaciousness” that the language was giving more room to play and explore my full experince.
Expanding beyond thoughts
So if you expect that you over-use the language of “I think” too (especially to my fellow research and insights professionals) I invite you to spot how often it crops up.
No need to beat yourself up if and when you notice it, just acknowledge it and choose a different word to explain what you want to share. It wont feel that easy at first, but give it a try (and don’t over think it!)
Approach it as a fun challenge and see the subtle spaciousness and expansion that occurs when you widen your words beyond thoughts.
Embracing inner wisdom is as much about unlearning the habits we have developed over time, as it is about learning new ways and modes of being.
If you’d like to be notified about my blog each week, consider signing up to my newsletter where you’ll always be the first to know about it straight in your inbox.