Don't Think, Just Do.

[NeverAmI]

Are you able to? If so, how often and under what circumstances?

 

[shoeless]

if it wasn't for suspended thinking, i wouldn't have any friends at all. i wouldn't have any social life at all. i'd be alone, which is fine, but more than that, i'd be lonely.

so yes, i think it can be a good thing. sometimes.

 

[Words]

What can serve as obstruction to person from hir accomplishment is the lack of exercise; it is the inexperience from not engaging with different solving methods that could suit different situations. It's good for balancing ourselves. it could also prepare a person's level of immunity against failures...wherein hesitation lessens and the level of activeness becomes more rational.

Are you able to?

I did a few hours ago. The aftermath was horrible. I suffered so much from regretful thoughts of continuous inner echoing of "what could be". "Did I do it right?". Overall, I accomplished something greater than the prizes of the task itself--practice.

If so, how often and under what circumstances?

Rare and whenever the direct goal is so worthwhile.

 

[Deleted member 1424]

It's both good and bad. If you're looking to gather experience it's quite handy, but you will do idiotic things. Of course sometimes just turning off your brain and going on impulse can be a a fun and valuable experience, even if it's completely out of character.

I don't think doing so out of anger is a very good idea though. >.>

 

[EditorOne]

No problem, if it's under duress. Intuition may simply be, in part, stored-up thinking saving your bacon. But that's for times when there isn't time to ruminate on possibilities like a cow chewing a cud.


Fastest decision I ever made was in less than a heartbeat, when I was a young teenager. A friend and I were walking along a tidal creek, in full ugly, dark, swirling ebb, current at eight knots, cold March day. I slipped right off the embankment and when I knew I was a goner I jumped for a lone piling about five feet out, maybe six feet of it above the water and it was about seven inches across at the top, enough to get my hands around it. I grabbed it and my body swung out with it, and when the tide grabbed it and pushed it back I could actually feel it filled with energy. It swung hard back toward the shore. I could have hung on and someone would have gotten a boat and plucked me off, but it just felt right to LET GO. The thing swung like an arm on a catapult and threw me back on the bank. It was over so fast my friend didn't even have a chance to yell.
"What the hell did you just do?" he asked while I was lying on the ground, not even wet.
"Damned if I know," I said.

Given a chance to think, though, I tend to think first, then decide. I've learned patience.

 

[flow]

This is why I love playing basketball or tennis. Anytime I get into the..flow..of the game, I stop thinking and just start playing. I become incredibly quick witted and sure of myself. My opponents become pawns that I manipulate at will. I get distracted by thoughts, and when I'm performing at my best the thoughts are all instinctual, not mental.

 

[citrusbreath95]

I feel strange not thinking, and usually if I don't think in a situation, afterwards I will stress about it later, thinking of everything else I could have done before I did the action. Yet, sometimes it's good not to think (I say this now, and one day I'll choose to do this in a life or death situation ) but like Shoeless said above, I wouldn't have a social life at all if it weren't for sometimes not thinking in a situation. (not that I depend on ppl or anything). But, sometimes the best things come from a brief thought (yet also some of the worse) Ah, I hope I meet in actual INTP soon, then we can think about every little decision each of us is going to make and babble on about it for hours...

 

[Dormouse]

The more options I consider, the more regret I'm bound to feel, so yes, sometimes a stupid, foolhardy decision is the way to go. Especially if delaying it could otherwise meddle with your life.
Recently college applications were due, and (surprise!) I had mine in the first week possible. Why? Because it wouldn't get done otherwise. Or I'd change my mind at the last minute and end up applying somewhere french, or far away, or tremendously expensive.
Because chances are, if I can't make up my mind immediatly, and it isn't a question of information, I'll never make it up at all. So my choice after a month of debating would be made on the same whims as the one made after day of debating. Only I'm bound to be much less rational under the stress of a looming deadline.

 

[Kuu]

Because chances are, if I can't make up my mind immediatly, and it isn't a question of information, I'll never make it up at all. So my choice after a month of debating would be made on the same whims as the one made after day of debating. Only I'm bound to be much less rational under the stress of a looming deadline.

Yes, well put.

I wouldn't call this "not thinking" as the poll would have it, though; it is after all quite a rational decision to streamline a process to cut off unnecessary expenses, mental or otherwise... To "not overthink" after a quick initial assessment does not equate to "not think"...

 

[aracaris]

Sort of, there are certain circumstances that are much better dealt with by going on "autopilot" and letting instinct take over. For example hazardous situations while driving, I find tend to be much better dealt with by letting animal reflexes take over. Even if 'I' don't immediately know how to deal with hazardous situations, chances are good my instincts will have the right solution, and will allow me to respond more quickly and accurately than I could otherwise.

However I do believe there's likely some quick subconscious thought process taking place during those times, and that thought process is much faster than what conscious thought can allow for, so saying I'm not thinking and just doing isn't 100% accurate perhaps.

Occasionally I find that just "going by instinct" works well even with problems that would seem like they require some heavy conscious thinking (such as mathematical problems). Sometimes just going with one's "instinct" (is this intuition?) can work problems out, where as really consciously thinking through them just makes my brain hurt.

 

[lafmeche]

Strangely enough, I went with my gut reaction in response to the poll (and voted no). After taking a moment to think though, the context of the question leaves a little room for interpretation. I've decided that I actually frequently do things without thinking (ie. things I'm very experienced with and which are no longer interesting to analyze, things like physical challenges - physical labor, sports, etc.), but that might not be what you meant, NeverAmI.

Other than these types of things that are more automatic responses, I don't tend to ever act without thinking.

if it wasn't for suspended thinking, i wouldn't have any friends at all. i wouldn't have any social life at all. i'd be alone, which is fine, but more than that, i'd be lonely.

so yes, i think it can be a good thing. sometimes.

I know this tends to be my problem with friends, but I guess I feel like suspended-thought relationships like those would feel a bit hollow. Since I place so much importance in my in-depth conversations and analyses, I'm not entirely sure what the point would be. What are your thoughts on that?

...
However I do believe there's likely some quick subconscious thought process taking place during those times, and that thought process is much faster than what conscious thought can allow for, so saying I'm not thinking and just doing isn't 100% accurate perhaps.

Yes.

Occasionally I find that just "going by instinct" works well even with problems that would seem like they require some heavy conscious thinking (such as mathematical problems). Sometimes just going with one's "instinct" (is this intuition?) can work problems out, where as really consciously thinking through them just makes my brain hurt.

I tend to solve problems in this manner, but I would still consider it thinking. You're taking a different path to a solution, but I don't know that I'd call it acting without thinking.

 

[Mary]

I'm always thinking, if not consciously then subconsciously.
So when I do things that appear to be impulsive, I'm just following my intuition (which happens to be right or at least very accurate 99% of the time)
I've done math homework for which a calculator was required on a type of calculation I've never done before (that sine/cosine/tangent stuff) and my guesses were remarkably accurate. Not spot on, obviously, but close enough to fool my teacher.

 

[Jesin]

I did a few hours ago. The aftermath was horrible. I suffered so much from regretful thoughts of continuous inner echoing of "what could be".

Heh, reminds me of http://dresdencodak.com/2009/04/19/onald-creely/

"Any decision openly performed by a neverwas violates defined lifestyle requirements and forfeits protection against any and all accumulated might-have-beens."

 

[intuitivet]

I rarely ever 'just act', but it has happened a few times. emotions seem to cause it to happen (i.e. being really angry, I don't think about what I'm doing or saying, same for being upset). I can act quickly in sports and games, but I prefer being allowed time to think (I also have 'acted quickly' when I have to come up with an idea on the spot, no time for thought!)
It's both good and bad, I think (as said earlier), as it can allow you to grasp more opportunities, but can have really terrible consequences.

 

[Midus]

It seems like every time I act without thinking, I tend to regret it. Drinking generally causes me to act more than think and I've done and said a few regrettable things while drunk. St Pattys day was particularly bad. Hung out with people that I work with. Drunkedly hit on an older woman that I work with. Then proclaimed my love for 2 of the girls that I work with. Regret doing these things, but it also put my thoughts into prospective in a weird way. If I think too much about something, I have a tendency to delude myself. One of the girls that I said I was in love with is a girl that I've continually said and thought that I only want as a friend. Revealing that made me realize that this is far from the truth.

When not drunk, Its very difficult for me to just do. Conversations are generally pretty awkward for me because I need time to think, but I can sometimes just go for spurts at a time. Then I realize that I'm being completely natural while speaking and panic which causes me to freeze up.

Thinking over every detail makes me feel comfortable, but it can also lead to me not acting at all. Sad cycle.

 

[bovinity]

I almost always think things through. When I'm angry I deliberately pick what inanimate objects to break based on how little I think it will upset the people I live with. When I get an impulse to call a girl, I think through exactly why she would or wouldn't want to talk to me and act accordingly.

Usually when I act without thinking I make a complete moron out of myself. For being a "very expressed" N type (88% on MBTI, 95% on the mypersonality test), I don't really seem to have much intuition when it comes to daily living >_>

 

[WoodsWoman]

I voted yes - however only under certain circumstances. Extreme stress usually involving shock require this. If it's not life/death then thinking things through rules the day.

But then I'm an INFP... so odd by any standard.