3 Ways to Stop Overthinking Dead in its Tracks

“Stop thinking, and end your problems.” ~ Lao Tzu

Do you ever feel bogged down, overwhelmed by your own thoughts?

You’re contemplating a career change but find yourself confronted by an endless list of pros and cons.

You’re struggling to find the right wording for an important email.

You’re standing in a grocery aisle, trying to determine which scent of deodorant to get. Even when you know what you want, the sheer number of choices can trigger paralyzing indecision.

This happened when I went shopping for a new pair of shoes a few days ago. Walking into the warehouse-sized store made me feel lightheaded and I quickly lost my focus.

Many people are intimately familiar with the “paralysis by analysis” problem. As the number of possibilities in any given situation increases, our ability to make decisions actually decreases.

We fall into the trap of overthinking when we lack the confidence to own the choices we make.

The problem? The options available to us are virtually limitless. We can get lost in a sea of anxious ideas, never arriving on the shores of action.

The solution? Consciously limit the number of options available to you. By limiting your choices, you’ll increase your freedom to act – which is infinitely more valuable and useful.

How can you limit your options? Here are a few thoughts:

1. Do something

Ever feel like you must know exactly how everything will turn out before taking that first step? This is an easy way to fall victim to overthinking. We’re constantly waiting for the right time, the right circumstances, the right people, the right mindset. While it’s good to have a well thought out plan, we can plan ourselves to death.

How do you break the cycle? Ask this question: What’s one small thing I can do today that gets me closer to my goal? If you desire to write a book, write a paragraph of free-flowing thoughts. If you want to start a business, create a business card. If you want to get to know someone better, say hello the next time you see them.

For me, the anxiety began well before I walked into the shoe store. Instead of endlessly following my anxious thoughts, I decided to go into the store.

2. Resist second-guessing yourself

Immediately after walking out of the store with my new shoes, my mind started generating thoughts like: “What if I picked the wrong ones?” or “Could I have bought it online for less?” or “Were the reviews that I read on Amazon legit?”

It’s easy to live in the parallel universe called “what-if?” – but living there is emotionally costly.

Trying to find your way back to our solar system? Become fully present to the thing or option you have chosen. Don’t worry about whether you’ve made the wrong choice until a problem manifests itself. Deal with it at that time, not before.

3. Be ok with making wrong choices

Nobody wants to make a wrong decision – especially when the stakes are high and consequences far-reaching. Here’s the honest truth – we all make wrong choices. It’s unavoidable.

“Failure” is actually one of the most effective ways to limit our options. If your current job isn’t a good fit, you can eliminate a whole set of choices on your next job search. If your relationship went south, you’ll have a better idea of who not to date.

Through it all, be compassionate with yourself. A wrong choice can feel costly, but the lessons will be invaluable.

The next day after purchasing my new shoes, I realized they were a size too big. It was annoying to have to go back to the store, but I knew exactly what I wanted the second time I walked in. It felt empowering and freeing.

Less is More

When you’re in the grips of the overthinking mind, your thoughts can feel all-consuming.

They have as much power as you are willing to give them.

You can break the cycle of overthinking.

Choose to act today.

Choose to be free.