I admit freely that I am a nerd. I have very strong analytical tendencies, which have come in handy and made me very good at math and science. I know lots of other people with similar tendencies, which got me thinking over the last few days about both the positive and negative aspects of analyzing everything, almost compulsively.
Here is my take on some of the pros and cons of being such an analytical person:
Pros:
1) I'll never waste money gambling or playing the lottery, because I know how tiny the probability of coming out ahead over time actually is.
2) I'm very good at organizing things, which means that I actually enjoy keeping things clean and tidy (although I don't always make the effort).
3) I'm very financially responsible and good at saving, because I think about all the negative and positive effects of spending money on something.
4) I'm good at problem-solving and a complicated challenge excites me, even if I can't always carry out the solution to the problem.
Cons:
1) I overanalyze every interaction I have, often making interpretations that aren't warranted.
2) If I do happen to act on an impulse, and the outcome is not as hoped, I can't let go of my lapse in judgment for a very long time.
3) I avoid committing fully to creative activities and individual sports, because I am too much of a perfectionist to really enjoy the learning process for very long.
4) I have no idea how to truly relax, because I am always thinking about what I could be getting done or new places I could be visiting.
I'm sure there are many more in each category, but these are the ones that strike me now. Just the fact that I made a pros and cons list must be a sign of my nerdiness. I'm sure I'm not alone in this personality trait, but it often feels like it when I start to believe no one else thinks like I do.
No comments:
Post a Comment