How to Stop Overthinking and Trust What You Know

I don’t know if you’ve ever had this happen, but sometimes the more I think about something, the worse it gets.

I remember lying awake one night before a workshop, going over everything in my head. I had prepared. I had a plan. And yet, the more I thought about it, the more certain I became that it was going to go badly.

At some point, a simple phrase came to mind. Nothing fancy. Just something I could come back to. And it helped me step out of that spiral long enough to get some sleep.

The next day didn’t go perfectly—but it went well. And I was reminded that I probably knew more than I was giving myself credit for.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in that loop, you might find this useful.

If you have a simple phrase or thought that helps you when your mind starts spinning, I’d be interested to hear it. Please comment on LinkedIn, where others can join the conversation.

Rick MaurerAbout the Author, Rick Maurer

Rick Maurer helps leaders turn major changes into opportunities to engage people and strengthen commitment. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Fortune. He is the author of several books on change and leadership.

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