I’d like to think of myself as both, as the title of my post implies.  I said “like”.  That does not make it so but the description of all the elements involved is better than seeing me in action.  There are so many times that I wish I could just sit back and not give a damn about so much in my life but it’s beyond impossible for me to shut down the thinking process which often drives me to distraction.

Oh yes, the best analytical thinkers are also grouped into critical thinkers, one and the same.  Most of us in this group can analyze information, in most cases, whether it’s business-related or in every day relationships.  We observe.  We gather and evaluate evidence on certain matters in an attempt to arrive at a meaningful conclusion.  Analytical thinking begins with objectivity.

But, there is a big downside to being “criticalanalytical”.  The quest to always seek knowledge and never, ever, stop looking for answers.  At times I gather too much information on either technical, or other, matters, realizing after the fact that I spent too much time devouring information I’ll never use later on.  Then, there’s the procrastination factor.  Over analyzing situations and then sitting back and accomplishing little, if anything because I end up identifying with the reasons on both sides of an issue and not focusing on just one.  Yes, yes, enter indecisiveness and the accompanying fear of making that wrong decision.

Let’s mix-in being a creature of habit and not always open to going with some immediate flow of a situation.  Not necessarily a fault for anyone who chooses to shy away from being impulsive, preferring to sit firmly on their personal agenda.  Then, there are times that panic can set in when dealing with certain, not all, people.  I think we’ve all experienced moments where an immediate personality clash sets in and we shy away from an individual.  I call that my own analytic-perception in having an ability to see past some Pollyannaish aura of another person to a bunch of red flags waving madly in their background.  There are times that works in an opposite manner and a completely positive reaction presents itself.  I’m then anxious to learn so much more about this person looking back at me.   One basic part of my personality is that I have no time for fools.  Period.  And that brings up the fact that, at times, I have no filter.  Now and then, I can be inappropriate with my direct responses to others.  That…is just my logic overriding the fact that I probably know a hell of a lot more than you do about the topic you just brought up.

I’ll admit to being a bit of a loner.  Hey, I’m an only child and often say that fact demonstrates one thing which I can do very well…be alone!  I’ll never change that or any of the dynamics which make me…me.  Throw any contradiction my way, along with any amount of pure, unadulterated, bullshit, and I’m gone!  I’m off to my little corner of the universe, with my favorite coffee cup, to my well-organized desk, to spend quality time…analyzing anything and everything. 

From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop…If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what would it be? Why can’t it change?