Do you take time to think?

Over the past few weeks I have been wrestling with something that has been challenging my mind. It is all very positive and whilst imperfect action is usually better than taking too much time for perfect action, I need to make sure what I do is good both for my client and for myself satisfaction.

One of the great thinkers of fiction is Sherlock Holmes. The legendary detective who could solve mysteries, often criminal, where others failed. Now I am not saying my ‘issue’ is of a criminal nature!! Far from it. But, it did make me recognise that sometimes it is wise to take time for some good thinking.

Too often in our world we are pressurised into making decisions. Sometimes this is fine and stops us procrastinating so a decision made can ensure that we can move forward, even if the decision is wrong. Provided no damage has been done we can change our decision when more information comes to light. The ‘doing’ creates better knowledge as we have more in our experience bank and can then see if the action and route we are taking is right. Correcting if we seem to be heading off in the wrong direction.

One of the things that usually happens in a Sherlock Holmes story is he gathers information and evidence only to fail to quickly reach the definitive correct answer. Once he feels he has all the information he stops. He then usually takes some quiet time to think, and think deeply without interruption, often over days. Dr Watson wondering what his friend is up to and concerned for his health. In the end Holmes comes up with the answer and can explain the logic of the issue.

When I passed the statute in the picture it made me stop. Partly to admire the statue and partly to remind myself of the need – sometimes to just stop. The ever increasing pace of daily life and the speed of communication can place pressure on us to keep moving.

With this new thought that our minds do take time to work through some issues I realised that taking time to ‘just think’ is of immense value for the right topic area. My project is one such area – by nibbling away it has not allowed me the time to make a serious review. This is what I have now done. I found the time to make that serious review, look at all of the information, step back and see if it makes sense, check it all fits, ensure that there is logic and a flow – not merely jumping to a conclusion when the evidence and information has not all been correctly considered.