All things are cyclical, and our little misogyny hamlet of a Subreddit is not immune to the lazy tendencies of society at large. In a world of virtual EVERYTHING, we often conflate the effort of analyzing a thing with the exertion of building that same thing. So before anyone else goes off on a frustrated rant, I believe it’s time for a semi-annual “Thinking v. Doing” check-up.

The users of MRP, me included at times, would rather wax poetic about the esoteric aspects of what makes a man, rather than give examples of action demonstrating the building of a man. Theory has its allure, because it can be applied in the abstract to our own personal situations. Educated guesses can be made about how people may behave with regard to whatever circumstance a man is addressing. To further buttress this “virtual testing” we simplify (intentionally or unintentionally) factors from the problem that is to be solved by the use of categorization and stereotype. (E.g., if AWALT, then in theory, X woman will react to Y in Z manner.)

Great, a man has discovered the path to paper Alpha and keyboard cowboy, and might even fool himself into believing he gets it. Has filling the space between a man’s ears ever gotten his dick wet? Does knowing how to pray guarantee a place for a man in Heaven? Will being good at “fantasy” sports make a man qualified to run Minnesota United FC?

Knowing isn’t enough. Being smart isn’t enough. Recognizing the patterns in the Code is not enough, Neo. Does a man enjoy fucking or not? Is it worth the effort to be a coveted man? Is a man that frightened of what a woman will think of him? At some point paralysis of analysis and procrastination has to end.

Getting Out of Your Head

There are several causes of analysis paralysis and these can affect smart men the worst.

People fear making the wrong decision

Often we don’t make a decision because we fear making the wrong one. It can be impossible to work out all the many possible consequences of the choice or strategy to employ, particularly with people. Because it is impossible to know which decision is best, we avoid making any decision at all. This can be particularly difficult for linear thinkers who are used to using logic to resolve problems. People are irrational, complex and often words betray what they are really thinking and feeling.

There is too much choice

In our current society, there is a huge amount of choice available. From diets, lifting programs, the hobbies we engage in, the shit we buy, the careers we choose and the relationships we foster, our lives are made up of endless choices. Having lots of choices seems like it would be a good thing. However, having many options (not to be confused with abundance mentality) can actually make it more difficult to choose. It is also the case that we are never quite as happy with the choices we make because we are always wondering if a different choice would have been better. Every fucking guy who married his High School sweetheart ends up puking on this sub or AskMRP about not having sowed his oats. This combination of “Paradox of Choice” and “Fear of Missing Out” is pervasive in this space.

There is too much information

For each choice we make, there are vast amounts of information available. Take the example of eating healthily. A man will be able to find thousands of books, academic papers, websites and TV programs about this subject. It would be impossible to read or watch all of these resources. Even if we did, many of them are conflicting. Some tell us not to eat fat, some say avoid carbs while yet others suggest we avoid meat or dairy. MRP tries to narrow information by providing anecdotal evidence in the form of Field Reports and “Own Your Shit” to demonstrate what works for individuals to whom the reader might relate. YMMV.

A dude looking for relationship advice likes to find a conclusive answer before he makes ANY decision and this simply isn’t possible in the information age. Sometimes perfect can get in the way when good enough will do in a crisis. In addition, The Red Pill isn’t meant to be prescriptive. I’m not a deacon, and this isn’t a cult. I’m not trying to fuck your SO, you are.

Lack of focus

Some of you fuckers have undiagnosed adult ADHD. Added to this, the incredible amount of options for our lives can also make it more difficult to focus. We can see so many people doing so many different things with their lives and we want to do them all too. However, spreading ourselves too thin can mean that we do not do our best at any one thing. With the constant distractions of porn, social media, and other people, we can find it hard to focus on what is really important to us.

This is a main reason why the virtues of lifting are extolled here. Lifting takes up a regimented period of a man’s day, which used to be misspent oversleeping in bed, making money for someone else, or sitting around with the SO not fucking on the couch. Many of us use lifting as the catalyst for the entire day. It provides discipline, focus, and strength of mind and body. More and more studies are being published showing that strength training allows a man to be more vigorous, youthful, and masculine long into his life.

Trying to do too much at once

As a result of our lack of focus, we often try to do too much. Multitasking sucks, and study after study demonstrates that it does nothing to increase productivity or results. In addition, we only have the mental and physical energy to make a certain number of decisions every day. As our energy is consumed, decision making becomes harder and harder. We begin to make less well-informed decisions and this can affect our productivity and creativity. This is why we also implore men to initiate sex when they feel up to having sex. A man has the energy to do it right, and if rejected, can move on to do something productive with his time.

A high IQ is no guarantee of success if men become paralyzed by making decisions. Overthinking can lead to being less productive and less creative. It can also lower cognitive function, exhaust willpower and undermine happiness. Getting stuck in one’s head will beat a man down.

Ultimately, if intelligence gets in the way of taking concrete action, it can lead to eventual failure, rather than success. This is why so many intelligent, outwardly successful men are miserable. They don’t act, react poorly to the smallest of failures, and don’t persevere.

Tips to Act

After identifying why men overthink things to the point of catatonia, I should probably provide some actionable solutions to the issue, or lest I become part of the problem.

Prioritize your actions

We have a limited capacity to make decisions. So to be most effective, men need to prioritize the most important ones. Making a man his mental point of origin will simplify this greatly. If a decision is a needless sacrifice, it’s probably a bad decision. This is why successful people develop a routine and don’t suffer the bullshit of others. To “not give a fuck” is not a call to be callous, it is a call to prioritize what is important and disregard the rest (or find it absurd). Why wear out decision-making abilities choosing things that could be delegated, or have almost no consequence to a man’s life?

Take important action when you are freshest

Because we have a limited ability to make effective decisions, it is worth making important ones when we have the most energy. We have all experienced the situation where we struggle through work even when we are tired. We make mistakes, and get clumsy. This is not the time to make important decisions. Most people are better at making decisions early in the day: before their limited amount of mental energy and willpower runs out. Initiate earlier. Game during the day. Take time to rest and recover.

Limit time searching for further information

When a man has a decision to make, decide how much time will be spent researching it. Obviously, different decisions will need different amounts of time. Choosing a toaster has fewer consequences than choosing divorce. Deciding where to go on vacation is less important than choosing a place to live. Work out the worst-case consequences of the decision and allocate a reasonable amount of time to make a choice. If a man can’t act in a meaningful way, minimize the damage that could be done by keeping his fucking mouth shut. Not acting can also be the best action if he is unprepared.

There is a plethora of information available on any subject. Reading too many posts here will likely lead to further confusion. Choose a few reliable sources and learn on your own time. Set a time limit, do the research and then make the choice. I’ve seen divorce research last many, many months on this sub. Law school only lasts six semesters, and your research won’t result in a diploma or job.

Some necessary action is admittedly reflexive or close to instantaneous. This is where good practice and repetition come into play. This is why we have a staggered interaction strategy proposed for men having trouble expressing their wants in relationships. (1) Observe (STFU) and minimize damage; (2) sorting emotional speech (AA, AM, Fogging, etc…); and (3) proactive, overt expression of boundaries and desires (meaningful mouth sounds used to say what a man wants and deserves). The fact that the sub uses training wheels to get men to talk to women as though their own lives are important is both sad and illustrative. Men in this sub are generally poor advocates for themselves and blame others for it.

Be clear about your objectives

What the fuck do you want? A man can’t make an effective decision unless he is clear on his desired outcome. Also keep in mind that a man’s desired outcome might change, which requires a change in course. Before he begins any research, he needs to think about what it is he truly desires from the decision. This will help a man to focus on the most pertinent information he needs to make that decision.

The vaguer a man makes his objectives, the less obtainable they will be, and also the less likely a man will be to act to achieve success. The “Own Your Shit” weekly thread serves to distill a man’s shitty vagaries until he can clearly state what he wants.

Conclusion

It’s easy to retreat into the comfort of theory when people and life are unpredictable. In order to get the most value from this sub and from the advice it dispenses, a man needs to step away from academia and into the arena. Above all else, this requires knowing what he wants.

By providing some cogent and congruent solutions to this pervasive problem with our membership, I hope at least some of you faggots are spurred to act, regardless of your fears and misgivings.