As an instructor I've realized a theory on overanalyzing things. When I was in 1st grade, a teacher told us, "there's no such thing as a stupid question" which I believed until I started leading daily workshop classes a couple years ago. Although I still believe no question is inherently stupid, the context CAN make it stupid in my opinion. So if I'm about to get hit by a car, but instead if jumpin the #^@! out the way, I start tryin to figure out the make & model of the car = STUPID! right? lol
But that doesn't mean it's inherently stupid to know the make & model of a car... especially if I'm a dealer or mechanic, for example. If you follow me, I look at "overanalysis" the same way. It only exists in CONTEXT. So if analyzing something is distracting you, risking your safety, or otherwise moving you AWAY from your next GOAL, it's OVERanalyzing (and stupid lol); but if it's clarifying your path, increasing your certainty, and otherwise moving you CLOSER to your next GOAL, analyzing is great.
Another point to make about overanalysis is that it can be a way of dealing with one's fear. The fear of making a decision, or taking action, can manifest itself with the seemingly innocuous, prudent attempt to gather more information. All the while, it's stifling progress.
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