Metacognition

EXPLAINS EVERYTHING --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacognition

...and is probably why I do yoga...lol I tend to get lost in my head thinking about the process of thinking (questions like - how do I listen, or how do I see, how can I improve these processes, etc)...and the process others use to think...and how I can route things to an optimal place given desired outcomes.

Metacognition feels like a good thing cause it helps me improve learning processes and learn more, except when it goes to an anxiety extreme, at which point I force myself to listen to my breath and do a pose :)

However, I wonder if poor metacognition (the arrogant, ignorant, immature phenomenon) is inadvertently "rewarded" in large structures due to said individuals taking more action...It takes a huge lack of self awareness to assume competency in certain areas (e.g., really bad singers who audition for american idol and genuinely believe they are good) and as one builds more "meta cognition" one realizes "I am not that good at X but can get better at X by doing Y."

It takes time to build the knowledge and come to the realization, but perhaps the time spent thinking prevents one from taking action? Like that idiot at the office who can barely spell his name and never seems to think (I'm intentionally saying his) but asks for the promotion repeatedly till he gets it cause "he deserves it" even though he provides no value whatsoever. Seriously, you could fire him tomorrow and feel no real impact. I'm sure everyone knows at least one of these :) But he takes action repeatedly and eventually receives the opportunity.

I have various issues with the "take action" mentality - often feel like a lot of problems could be prevented if people thought more and did less - but have been figuring out how to balance taking action with thinking time. Sometimes being more action oriented seems better, sometimes it feels stupider and pointless, especially if you are taking an action in a stupid direction (yes there is a stupid path). Eh. I guess its a constant balancing process :)