Stop Overthinking and Start Moving Forward- Day 18

Ep. 152 - Stop Overthinking and Start Moving Forward, Day 18

Episode Summary:

Feeling stuck in analysis paralysis? Overthinking might be keeping you from making progress. In today’s episode, Christina shares how to break free from the overthinking trap, let go of perfection, and take messy, imperfect action.

What You’ll Learn:\n- How overthinking leads to inaction and keeps you stuck.\n- The importance of taking messy, imperfect action.\n- Simple strategies to overcome overthinking, like the 2-Minute Rule and the “Good Enough” mindset.

Resources Mentioned:\n- Join The Village: Click here\n- Sign up for Momentum Month: Click here\n\nCall-to-Action:

Don’t let overthinking hold you back. Listen to this episode, take action, and join Momentum Month for weekly guidance and support!

Resources Mentioned:

• Join The Village: Click here to connect with our community.
• Sign up for the Momentum Challenge: Click here to get started.

Resources & Links

• Follow Christina @christinaslaback
• Email us at hello@christinaslaback.com
• www.christinaslaback.com

Transcript

Day 18 - Overthinking

Christina: [00:00:00] Overthinking feels like progress because you're putting so much mental energy into it, but in reality, it often leads to paralysis. You're stuck, unable to move forward. And here's the truth. Clarity doesn't come from thinking. Clarity comes from action .

Welcome to Clear and On Purpose, the podcast designed to help you cut through the noise and get back to what matters most. If you're feeling stuck but need to take intentional action, you're in the right place. I'm Kristina Slaibach, homeschooling mom of two and life and business coach, helping you drop in and align with your values and create more space.

Each week I'll be sharing practical insights and simple, Actual steps to help you find clarity, boost your energy and design a life that balances ambition with. Let's dive in and get clear on [00:01:00] purpose.

Welcome back to Claire and On Purpose. I'm Christina and today we're talking about overthinking. Have you ever found yourself stuck in analysis mode? You're replaying decisions in your head, trying to figure out the perfect plan, or second guessing every option, only to end up doing nothing.

I've been there too, and I know how frustrating it can be. Overthinking feels like progress because you're putting so much mental energy into it, but in reality, it often leads to paralysis. You're stuck, unable to move forward. And here's the truth. Clarity doesn't come from thinking. Clarity comes from action.

You don't need the perfect plan or the perfect step to start. You just need to do something. So, today we're going to talk about how overthinking holds you back and why letting go of perfection is the key to progress and the ability to [00:02:00] break free from the overthinking trap and take action.

Let's start by breaking down what overthinking really looks like. I know this all too well because I've been stuck in that swirl myself. You start with a goal or a decision to make. Maybe you're trying to figure out how to start a new project, or maybe you're deciding whether to say yes to an opportunity.

And then your brain starts spinning. What if this isn't the right move? What if I fail? What if I succeed, but it becomes too much to handle? Maybe this isn't even the right goal for me. Should I start over? Before you know it, hours or even days have gone by, and you're still stuck in the same place.

You're exhausted from all the mental gymnastics. But you haven't taken a single step forward. So here's what's really happening. Overthinking is your brain's way of keeping you in your comfort zone. By staying in the realm of possibilities and what ifs, [00:03:00] you avoid the discomfort of taking action. It's a defense mechanism, but it's also a trap.

And the worst part is that overthinking often disguises itself as preparation. So you can tell yourself, I just need to think this through a little more. Or, I'll take action once I'm absolutely sure. But in reality, you're just delaying action on the very thing that's going to bring that clarity.

And that is taking action.

The antidote to overthinking is action. Specifically, messy, imperfect action. And this can be tough, especially if you're someone who sets high standards for yourself. I get it. I'm a planner and I love the idea of having everything mapped out perfectly before I start. But here's what I've learned. Waiting for perfection is just another way of staying stuck.

So let me talk about something. When I first started on this podcast, I actually got invited by a friend, or I probably wouldn't have done [00:04:00] it. I have been thinking about starting a podcast for a while beforehand, but I was stuck in that analysis paralysis of what it would look like, how I should show up, I needed all the perfect equipments, topics, I needed to have all of the software.

I wanted all of these things to line up. In order to take that next action, and honestly, if she wouldn't have invited me on and had me start with her in that messy imperfectness, I could probably still be thinking about it instead of taking action. Eventually, I realized that one of the things that holds me back, is wanting everything to be perfect.

By taking the messy action, by recording episodes, and just showing up, even though I wasn't 100 percent about it, I made progress. I got clarity. I got more information about what I liked, what I didn't, and I learned how to adjust along the way. We [00:05:00] need to let go of that perfection and embrace a good enough mindset.

So instead of aiming for the best it can be, aim for progress. And remind yourself that it's okay to be a beginner. There's something called the creativity gap. And I talk to my clients about this all the time. That's where your taste, your standards, how you view, like your aesthetics, they don't match your current skills.

So you might have really exquisite taste and you might look at something and have this idea of what it should look like, but your skills are still at a beginner level, especially when you're starting something new the gap in that creativity and the only way to close that gap is by doing the work, but it can often stop us because our vision of what we think it should look like doesn't match what we actually are capable of at the time.

So the way to be able to move through that is to move through that creativity gap, and that's to [00:06:00] take action. And that's to just show up as good enough continue to refine your skills and get to a spot where your output actually matches or is closer to that vision in your head. And taking that messy imperfect action is how you're going to improve.

So if you're ready to break free from the overthinking trap, here are some simple strategies one is the two minute decision rule. When you're stuck on a decision, give yourself just two minutes to choose. Set a timer or remind yourself that most decisions aren't that serious.

you can adjust. You can change your mind. Give yourself that permission to play a little bit. The key is to take the pressure off and just allow yourself to decide. Adopt that good enough mindset. Remember that progress is better than perfection. When you're starting something new, give yourself permission to be a beginner.

Let go of the expectation that you need to get it right [00:07:00] on the first try. You're not trying to win any awards here, you're just taking the next step. Adopt that mentality of a student, and learn and be able to give yourself the ability to ask for help, and reframe mistakes as data.

Every step that you take, even if it doesn't go perfectly, gives you valuable feedback. Think of it like an experiment. You're gathering information about what works, what doesn't, and what feels right for you. Action leads to clarity every time, even if it's messy. I know that it can feel scary to take that first step.

Especially if you're worried about making the wrong move, there's no such thing as failure, only lessons. And every step that you take brings you closer to clarity and confidence. So here's your challenge for today. Think about something that you've been overthinking.

What's one step you can take right now? Can you [00:08:00] make a decision? Can you pick that next small action? Just pick something and do it. Maybe it's sending an email, making a phone call, or spending five minutes brainstorming. Whatever it is, take action today. 

Thank you for tuning in to Clear It On Purpose, if you found this episode helpful, I'd love for you to share it with a friend or leave a review. And don't forget to join us for Momentum Month. You can find all the details in the show notes, Thank you for tuning in to Clear and On Purpose. If you're ready to take intentional steps toward a more fulfilling life and want to customize the approach, I'd love to work with you. Visit www. christinaslayback. com to schedule a free consultation or explore current offers designed to help you gain clarity and reclaim your energy.

And don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with a friend if you found it helpful. It helps others find the show and grow our [00:09:00] community.