The Over Generalist

It is not too far of a stretch to say that sometimes we can totally buy in to the thinking that because something has happened in the past (think, the clumsily executed kick n’ scissor dance move at last years wedding), it’ll absolutely, positively happen every doggone time you put on your dancing shoes (massacring this or possibly a new move dance at this year’s social event).

Our human brains really love to be able to make sense of everything that goes on in our world, especially the new and unknown. It is a way for our brains to help us adapt, so, in a way, the brain’s intentions are truly pure of heart.

Thing is, overgeneralizing usually serves us up a hard ‘no’ on things we may want to try. It gets in the way of us moving forward, taking action, and trying something new. And there is a very simple explanation. We think we will know how it will all go down.

By letting your experience in one arena color other similar experiences, you are building up barriers and walls that really don’t need to be created. Instead, consider getting super-specific about the situation. Meaning, take an inventory on the particulars, such as the well-known journalistic technique of answering, ‘who,’ ‘what,’ ‘where,’ ‘why,’ when,’ and ‘how.’

Getting the specifics, the real nitty gritty, can help you stay away from over generalizing and assuming just because it happened before it will happen again.

So go bust a move!