Introspection is a guiding light—but it’s not always the right tool for the job.

I might as well be the king of introspection. I’ve built a habit—sometimes a compulsion—of constantly evaluating myself. What did I do wrong? What did I learn? How can I do better next time?

This tendency has served me well. It’s helped me grow, course-correct, and avoid making the same mistake twice.

But like any virtue, introspection becomes a liability when it's out of balance. A flashlight can help you see in the dark, but it’s not much use when what you really need is a hammer.

Sometimes, the best move isn’t thinking about what to do—it's just doing the damn thing. Not optimizing. Not analyzing. Not spiraling.

Just acting.

Overthinking can disguise itself as virtue. A fear of action, dressed up as thoughtful self-improvement. If I keep reflecting, I’m growing... right?

But often, what actually moves the needle is a bias toward action. Less reflection, more repetition. Less second-guessing, more trying again.

Even healthy habits can turn harmful when they become automatic and disproportionate.

So if you find yourself locked in another loop of self-analysis, pause. Ask: Is this helping me? Or just keeping me from moving?

Sometimes you don’t need to look deeper—you just need to move forward.