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Some days, you wake up excited about a big decision ā a new career opportunity, a purchase, or a long-awaited trip. But as the day unfolds, that initial excitement crumbles under endless doubts and āwhat-ifs.ā
You find yourself caught in a loop ā analyzing every possible outcome, seeking the perfect moment, and worrying about potential pitfalls. What started as a thrilling opportunity quickly became a maze of overthinking.
This isnāt only a fleeting moment of anxiety ā itās a common experience for many of us.
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We weigh our opinions carefully. But then, this careful consideration spirals into indecision and stress. We need perfection, haunted by the fears of failure and distracted by what others might think.
But thereās hope.
What if you could break free from this cycle of overthinking? What if you could navigate your indecisions with clarity and confidence rather than being overwhelmed by the fear of making the wrong choice?
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In this article, Iāll explore ten common overthinking mistakes that might hold you back and provide practical solutions to help you move forward.
Itās time to transform your approach to decision-making and rediscover the power of decisive action. Letās dive in and unlock a more empowered way of living.
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Overthinking isnāt just a mental habit ā itās a silent saboteur that can undermine your well-being and productivity.
Stress is the main effect of overthinking. And the numbers donāt lie on its effects.
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You're reading an excerpt fromĀ The ChallengeĀ ā a weekly newsletter dedicated to self-improvement, goal-setting, habits, time management, and health tips.
Every week, you'll receive:
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In a 2018 study , 74% of people reported feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope with stress. Only 7% of young adults could manage it compared to 30% of adults. And it had meaningful impacts on their lives.
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But letās see the main causes (or, at least, those that matter to us).
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Over time, the mental strain can lead to health issues . And it can have many impacts on your life.
Recognizing the destructive power of overthinking is the first step towards breaking free from its grip. So you can reclaim your mental clarity and live a more fulfilling and productive life.
Letās discover now the ten common overthinking mistakes that are holding you back (and how to fix them).
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Perfectionism is a powerful force that keeps you trapped in a cycle of inaction and self-criticism.
I pursued perfectionism since I started writing online. I was unsure about my writing skills because I wasnāt an English native. And I feared people would mark me as a terrible writer.
However,Ā perfectionism leads to burnout Ā and a constant feeling of inadequacy. You will soon abandon your dreams or feel like you are not good enough. And that road can only bring you to failure.
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The fix for perfectionism is simple ā embrace the concept of ā good enough.ā
Not everything you do must be perfect. And most of the things you will do will suck. But you can take incremental steps towards your goals. This way, you can also understand whatās not working and why.
Perfectionism will keep you from succeeding. Donāt let it ruin your life.
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Something very similar to perfectionism is overanalysis.
With perfectionism, you want to do a perfect job. With overanalysis, you wait for the best idea instead.
Yet, when you lose time for each detail, you take time away from doing things. You donāt put into practice whatās on your mind. And this behavior leads to inaction and missed opportunities.
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I often wonder about my products and articles. I want them to make a difference and help many people.
But as I keep analyzing them, time passes. Our weekly meeting approaches. And I have nothing prepared.
I learned to fix a time limit for decision-making and trust my instincts. When I have an idea, I start writing about it. And if it doesnāt work, it will go better next time.
Set a time limit and build a pros&cons list to aid your decisions. And abandon the idea or start working on it as soon as it gets past two days in your head.
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Everybody has their regrets. Thereās no life without them. And Iāve done my share of regretting past failures.
I spent almost two years trapped in a job that gave me nothing in return. And I thought about all the time that I lost for months. It pained me to know I could have invested my time better.
But thatās life. Nobody will give me back those months. And nobody will give you back anything you lost.
If itās gone ā itās gone forever. Or, at least, thatās how you should think about it. (And if it comes back, youāll see then.)
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How do you escape a prison of spiraling thoughts?
No, you donāt break through. You observe it.
Journaling and therapy can help you process past experiences ā use them. They can guide you to set new goals starting from those past mistakes instead of dwelling on regrets.
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Life throws problems and curve balls at us every day. And I donāt want to say we should always be ready to deal with them ā you can never prepare for some things. But at least donāt create problems out of thin air.
If you think something terrible is going to happen, it probably will. Thatās the simple law of attraction. So, donāt make your life more challenging.
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Compare the problem with the potential worst-case scenario. Is it as bad as you thought it would be?
It never is. But if you canāt stop it, you can always solve the problem with grounding mindfulness techniques.
Deep breaths and meditation are the best against catastrophizing. They will help you minimize the problem and see it from another perspective.
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When weāre children, we rely on adults to give us confidence and protection. But as we grow, we should let go of that protective crib and walk alone.
Relying on others for validation can weaken your self-confidence and decision-making abilities. On the contrary, you willĀ build more confidence Ā if you make decisions and stop waiting for people to reassure you.
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Building self-reliance is a long road. And you can get to the end only one step at a time.
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How often did you think somebody didnāt want to talk to you? And how many times did you find out they were only introverts?
It happened a lot to me. And it still does.
Every time I get to know new people, I can connect with them easily. But sometimes, I meet people who donāt talk much. And my head wonders if they hate or judge me negatively.
Days later, I discovered they were introverts. (Or, at least, thatās what they say.) And itās a shame that I got carried away by the anxiety of perceived judgments.
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External judgment is one of the most common overthinking problems we have. And it creates a lot of stress because we can never know what somebody else is thinking.
Yet, thatās something you canāt control.
If they have you ā they hate you. Thereās nothing you can do about it.
It is better if they donāt. But when you focus only on what you can control, you empower yourself to act authentically and overcome the fear of judgment.
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I always do mountains of research when I work on something that matters. But sometimes, this tendency escalates even for low-priority activities. And it becomes a problem.
In an age where information is readily accessible, itās easy to fall into the trap of overloading yourself with data. You want to make the perfect decision. But, by doing that, you do not decide at all.
The obsession with gathering data leads to confusion, overwhelm, and ultimately paralysis. You get lost in a cycle of research and insecurities. And you donāt know whatās right or whoās telling the truth.
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The key to overcoming the overflow of information is a hard limitation.
Limit your information intake to a few reliable sources. Then, set a time limit for each decision based on the information you gathered until then.
You can always make things right later if needed. But at least you wonāt fall into a never-ending trap of insecurities.
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On the other hand, there is a tendency to overgeneralize.
This mental trap can distort your perception of reality. And it will lead you to broad and negative conclusions based on limited experience.
āThis always happens to me,ā or āIāll never succeed.ā Are those sentences familiar?
Itās simple to fall into this thinking pattern when a single failure occurs. It happened to me many times when I started my business. But itās counterproductive. It discourages and makes you more pessimistic. Plus, it forbids you from building an objective opinion.
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Overgeneralizing keeps you in a cycle of negativity. But you can escape it by learning to recognize and challenge those negative thoughts.
What was different this time? What was the decisive action that made everything crumble?
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The realm of possibility is endless. But hereās the twist ā everything is in your brain.Ā Most of the time, those possibilities donāt even exist anymore.
You made your choice when you had to. And thereās nothing you can do to go back and change it. (Scientists havenāt invented time machines yet.) So, stick with it.
If you donāt, this constant self-doubt will paralyze you and make you unable to commit to your choices. You wonāt have the confidence to move forward. And every related choice will trigger your insecurities.
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Second-guessing is an indicator of a lack of confidence. So,Ā building confidence Ā is the first step towards trusting your decisions more.
Then, you have to accept you canāt predict every possible outcome. You will make mistakes sometimes. But thatās not an indicator of your worth.
Every choice carries some level of uncertainty. You only need to find your acceptable threshold. Then, focus on the path ahead with determination.
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Comparing yourself with others itās wrong. We all know it. And everybody told us not to do it.
But we are competitors. Comparison helps us understand where we are and what the goal looks like. It only becomes a problem when it hinders your growth.
Sometimes, we take inspiration from those who reached a goal and try to emulate them. Then, emulation turns into building your unique path and finding success with it. But it can also turn sideways.
The comparison could become toxic if you keep emulating and want to achieve the same results because thatās impossible.
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Comparison is healthy when limited. Could you use it to gauge the potential of your goal? But never use it to compare your values with someone else. You live in two different realities in a shared world.
You can take inspiration from others. But donāt use their standards to measure your value.
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Escaping those ten overthinking mistakes wonāt be simple. It takes time to address each issue. And often, we donāt make only one mistake but many.
So, this week, I bring you multiple challenges to address the most common issues.
Hereās your challenge list:
[DOWNLOAD THE FREE TRACKING INFOGRAPHIC]
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IDEAS CURATED BY
Passionate about self-improvement, personal growth, finance, and creativity. I love to inspire people to become the better version of themselves. Author @ www.cosmopolitanmindset.com
CURATOR'S NOTE
Discover 10 common overthinking mistakes that may be holding you back. Learn practical strategies to overcome them and start making confident decisions today.
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