Breaking the Loop: A Braver Path Beyond Overthinking
How to overcome the creativity-killing habit
Overthinking. That sneaky loop we know too well – where doubt takes the wheel and creativity gets sidelined. If you’re struggling with it, I’ve re-aired an episode of The Courage Effect to give you perspective and support. The show unpacks this all-too-familiar habit and I explore how it chips away at our confidence, presence, and yes — our creativity.
Let’s be honest: we don’t overthink because we’re weak. We overthink because we care. Because we want to get it right. Because uncertainty makes us uncomfortable. But when we let the need for perfection, control, or reassurance take over, we shrink. Our ideas get stuck in draft mode; where our voice, our joy, our spark are dimmed.
So, how do we break the loop?
Start with awareness. Notice the patterns: catastrophizing, mind-reading, black-and-white thinking. They’re not facts – they’re habits of mind. And when we name them, we start to reclaim our power.
Then, practice what I call containering. Give your worries a space, but not the whole stage. Journal for 20 minutes with the prompts: “What? So what? Now what?” Let your thoughts be seen, then gently guide them toward clarity or closure.
Don’t forget an essential ingredient: compassion. Your inner critic may be loud, but it doesn’t get the final say. Speak to yourself like you would a close friend; with kindness, perspective, and warmth. Especially when you’re in the messy middle – because that’s where creativity lives.
Overthinking thrives in isolation. So connect. Share. Laugh at the absurdity of your mental loops with someone you trust. Courage grows in community, and emboldens us to open up.
The truth is, creativity isn’t clean or controlled. It’s wild. Alive, and a little chaotic. Trusting that you can handle some mess and still find your way. So, next time your thoughts start spinning, take a breath. You’re not stuck — you’re just being invited to begin again.
What’s one creative risk you can take today, even if it’s imperfect?
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Thank you, Suzanne, for this article and the podcast episode. I appreciate the questions that you set aside time on your calendar to ask yourself when you are overthinking: What? So What? Now What? This may be a powerful exercise. I am going to give it a try. I envision that I may be able to get to the root cause of my overthinking, especially if I have patterns in my "So What's?".