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Are You Stuck in Infinite Loop Thinking?

What if I mess up the presentation? There will be people in the room who are critical of what I’m working on…What if they challenge me…Ask me a question I can’t answer…Maybe I should redo those charts…Work on the flow again…No, it’s okay like it is…But, what if I mess up the presentation?

Have you ever had a conversation like this with yourself? Whether it’s about a presentation, career opportunity or business direction, most of us have this kind of inner dialogue at one time or another.

This inner dialogue is one example of infinite loop thinking, and it’s a signal that we’re stuck in a thinking rut. The idea of infinite loop thinking comes from computer programming. In programming, writing code that runs through a series and returns to the same line of code over and over again, infinitely, is a major no-no and one that beginning programmers often make. Back in the days of mainframe dependence, a beginner’s infinite loop could tie up a system for hours.

In a similar mode, infinite loop thinking can tie up our thinking systems, without us recognizing that we’re stuck. The problem with infinite loop thinking is that it blocks us from seeing choices, positive alternatives or realistic outcomes. Meanwhile, because of the way our brains work, what we focus on expands. So, if we are focused on the bad that can happen (and we usually are with an infinite loop), that’s what expands in our viewpoint. Our infinite loop sometimes adds steps, but doesn’t break the prevailing pattern of negativity.

How do you break out of infinite loop thinking? First, recognize when you’re thinking in an infinite loop. Then, try one of these three tools.

  • Identify the opposite possibilities to your negative lines of “code.”  You might think instead: “People are going to be astonished and impressed by my presentation…even the critics are going to see the brilliance of my plan.”

  • Write down your loop. Seeing it in black and white can help you recognize the fallacies and extremes in your loop.

  • Use the Assumption Challenge. Write down the assumptions in your loop and those impacting it. Take each assumption and ask yourself a series of questions: What if this wasn’t true? What if this changed? What if I turned this around? Using the Assumption Challenge can help you identify the underlying thoughts, feelings and patterns of your thinking about the situation, and help you snip an infinite loop.


Shannon Bradford is a writer and coach, helping people learn how to master their brains to succeed in their careers and businesses. She is the author of Brain Power (Wiley, 2002), 15-Minute Career Change, and 15-Minute Breakthrough.

© 1999 Shannon Bradford

 

 


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