Overthinking is not a flaw — it’s a tool

Overthinking nearly ran my life. Now, I use it as a tool — with help from Nietzsche, Tolstoy, and one daily habit that keeps me focused.

May 14, 2025

I’ve been overthinking since I was a kid — though back then, it wasn’t called that.

It was called aiming for the A-mark only.

No excuses. No “good enough.” Just perfect.

That mindset gave me high grades, discipline, and results. But it also came with a cost: a restless mind. Always analyzing. Always fixing. Always asking: what if it’s not enough?

It took me years to realize:

Overthinking isn’t the enemy. But if you don’t direct it, it will direct you.

At some point, I began seeing overthinking not as a curse, but as a mental tool — one that could sharpen decisions, map complex scenarios, and uncover potential pitfalls before they hit.

Especially in business.

When I’m planning a new move — a deal, a negotiation, a long-term strategy — that same tendency to analyze everything becomes an asset. I use it to simulate scenarios, build hedges, forecast failures, and choose the most sustainable path. That’s when overthinking becomes strategic thinking.

But there’s a thin line.

If I let it spill beyond the planning stage, it starts working against me. Momentum gets lost. Energy drains. Confidence falters. I’ve been there too — doubting every step, over-perfecting, and delaying action under the illusion of more “thinking.”

It reminds me of what Nietzsche once warned:

“He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster.”

❝

Overthinking, if left unchecked, becomes the very thing you were trying to prevent: chaos.

But Nietzsche didn’t dismiss thought. For him, mastering your inner world — shaping your will — was the true path to power.

Tolstoy approached it differently. He searched the soul, not just the mind. To him, thinking wasn’t enough unless it brought you closer to peace, truth, and humility. Otherwise, it was just noise.

I’ve learned to hold both views.

Power and peace. Precision and surrender.

And yet in this fast-moving world, there’s little room to stop and think clearly. That’s why I built one practice into my routine. It’s simple, but powerful:

Each morning, before I touch the work, I sit down with a pen and paper and ask:

“What is truly important today?”

Not urgent. Not loud. But important.

That one act helps me silence the mental noise and redirect my energy. It’s not always perfect — but it keeps me closer to my vision, rather than letting routine or randomness take over my day.

So yes — I still overthink. But now, it’s mostly by choice.

Overthinking is not a flaw.

It’s a force. Just make sure you’re the one holding the reins.