The Balance Between Putting an Effort and Letting Go
There’s a fine line between putting in the effort and overdoing it.
It’s something I’ve noticed not just in my own life, but in conversations with friends, colleagues, and even strangers. Sometimes, the harder we try, the further we get from our goals. It sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? But I’ve learned over time that the balance between effort and letting go is something we all need to master.
It’s a lesson I’m still working on—figuring out how to trust the process while not losing sight of the work that needs to be done.
When You Stop Trying, It Happens
We’ve all been there—preparing for something important, putting in hours of effort, and still feeling like we’re not quite ready.
Take a presentation, for example. You rehearse your slides countless times, stressing over every word and every gesture, hoping it all comes together perfectly. The pressure builds, and you start to feel anxious like every mistake could ruin everything. But then, somewhere along the way, you stop overthinking. You trust your knowledge, let go of the need to be perfect, and just speak from the heart. Suddenly, the presentation feels more natural, the flow improves, and it goes smoother than expected.
This isn’t just about presentations—it’s true in other areas of life too. How many times have we overthought social interactions? Maybe we’ve spent hours crafting the perfect message, worrying about how others will perceive us. We try so hard to impress, to please, to fit in. But when we stop trying so hard and focus on being ourselves, the interactions become effortless. Friendships develop naturally, and connections feel more authentic.
“Paralysis by Analysis”
It refers to a situation where someone becomes overwhelmed by overthinking or overanalyzing a decision or problem, leading to inaction or decision-making paralysis.
Overthinking every decision, every move and every detail can leave us frozen in place, unable to move forward. It’s a pattern many of us recognize—spending so much time analyzing the situation that we forget to take action. Whether it’s deciding which project to tackle or choosing the right design, we can get caught up in the fear of making the wrong choice, and before we know it, we’re stuck.
I’ve had my share of moments like this. I remember working on an identity design for a company. The project dragged on for weeks because I was too caught up in perfecting every tiny detail. I’d tweak and rework, but the more I tried to perfect it, the more stuck I became.
Eventually, frustrated and burned out, I walked away from it for a couple of days. When I came back, the solution came to me in minutes. The act of stepping back, and giving myself space, allowed me the clarity I was missing. It was a humbling moment—realizing that overthinking had only delayed the inevitable breakthrough.
This is something I’ve learned over time:
“When we stop trying so hard to control every little thing, we perform better.”
We let go of the pressure, and things just fall into place.
Remember the infamous mission from GTA Vice City involving an RC helicopter?
I completed it with ease on my second try—while my siblings and friends struggled with it. I wasn’t doing anything special. I dove into it without giving any thought while they were stressing over the timing and controls, I was just going with the flow.
Without the weight of perfectionism, I acted instinctively—and that made all the difference.
It was a simple reminder: sometimes, when we stop trying so hard, we do better.
It’s like when I first started learning how to ride a motorcycle.
I’ve always been comfortable on a scooter, but a motorcycle felt like a whole different beast.
I would overthink every little move—the clutch, the gears, the balance—and it only made me more nervous and frustrated.
But then, one day, I decided to approach it differently. I hopped on the bike without overthinking it, thinking “Let’s see what happens.” I stopped trying to control every move and just let the experience unfold. Suddenly, everything felt more natural. The more I relaxed, the better I became at it.
It clicked because I allowed myself to let go of the pressure, and in doing so, I achieved more than I thought possible.
The Balance is Key
Whether it’s in presentations, social interactions, or work, the key is understanding the balance between effort and detachment. I’ve learned that it’s not about giving up or avoiding hard work; it’s about knowing when to step back, trust the process, and allow things to unfold naturally. It’s about recognizing when the pressure is doing more harm than good.
I see this balance clearly in my experience learning to ride a motorcycle. For the longest time, I struggled. I’d get so caught up in overthinking each step—shifting gears, managing the clutch, balancing—that I couldn’t focus on the ride itself. But one day, I decided to stop trying so hard. I just hopped on, let go of the anxiety, and allowed the experience to unfold. Suddenly, it clicked. The more I relaxed and let go of the pressure, the better I became at it.
It’s a constant process—recognizing when I’m trying too hard or overanalyzing. But each time I catch myself, I remind myself that the key is letting go. I’m working on it every day, learning to trust the process more and let things happen without forcing them. And the more I practice, the more I see how much easier life becomes when I stop overthinking and just let it flow.