Overthinking: When Your Thoughts Start Creating Momentum

Have you ever noticed that your mind can take one little thought and turn it into a whole story?🧠📖

That’s what overthinking can do.

Overthinking isn’t simply thinking a lot. Sometimes it’s thinking thoughts that don’t make you feel good and then continuing to think them until they gain momentum. And once that momentum starts, it can take you in a direction you really don’t want to go.

The tricky part is that we get used to it.🙁

We may dwell on the past, replaying something we wish we had said or done differently. We may worry about the future, imagining the worst-case scenario or trying to eliminate every bit of uncertainty. Or we may overanalyze, running through endless details, second-guessing simple choices, or trying to make everything “just right.”

I can really relate to that last one.🤦‍♀️

I’ll sometimes read and reread a text or email because I want to make sure it comes across exactly the way I intend. And sometimes, especially when I’m in a hurry, I’m not even thinking about what state of mind I’m in. I’m just thinking, This is a task I need to get done.

So I send it.

But what if we paused first?

What if, before we respond to a text, send an email, or even have a conversation, we asked ourselves a few simple questions:

What kind of energy, feeling do I want to project? 

Am I clear on what they are actually asking or saying?

Am I seeing the best in this situation, or am I reading into it?

And perhaps the most important question:

What state of mind am I in right now?

Because whatever state of mind you’re in is often what you project outward.

Much Love, ❤️ 

Cindy