Have you ever found yourself in an endless cycle of planning, imagining, analyzing, worrying, and never actually doing anything? That is the trap of overthinking; it keeps your mind busy and your life stagnant. The good news? You can unstick yourself.
Overthinking stems from some form of fear, whether it be fear of failure, rejection, or even making a mistake. We tend to tell ourselves stories like “What if it doesn’t work?” or “What if I’m not ready?” The good news is that these fears, while feeling real, are often imagined. The only way to overcome them is to face them head on.
Taking action doesn’t always mean doing something huge; it can start with a small step. If you’ve been thinking about taking a course or starting a business, sign up for that course or start your business. If you want to write a book, write a single page. After you take that first step, your brain will focus on progress instead of fear, shifting the narrative.
At Reader Is Leader, we have learners who come to us feeling stuck. But after they take action, even if it is just one small step, it does wonders for their confidence. The cycle of overthinking gets replaced with taking action, and that’s how change begins.
This is how you can transform overthinking into taking action:
➡️ Notice your thoughts – Be aware of thinking loops and when they occur.
➡️ Utilize the second way: journaling. Get your thoughts onto paper instead of trying to pry them out of your mind in a fixed cognitive loop.
➡️ What’s one actionable step I can take right now?
➡️ Tiny moves forward. It flips the intimidating nature of big goals into something much more manageable.
➡️ Don’t chase perfect. Perfect getting achieved is meaningless until something is attempted.
Actions will drive improvement. You don’t need to have absolute instructions in mind to begin. As you take action, the path unfolds gradually.
The engine in your car is revving, there’s energy, there’s noise, but you remain completely still. That’s what overthinking is. The only thing that shifts from parked to moving is action.
There are places you can get to, things to be done, even goals to achieve. Resolve the underlying issues and take control of your steps forward, as those await you, too.
The future is filled with potential. Every great journey starts with a single step, and today that opportunity arises.