Overthinking
September 20, 2026
When Trying to Settle It Keeps It Going
The urge to fix uncomfortable thinking can sometimes keep our attention attached to it. Self-leadership includes recognizing when something needs action and when continued analysis, checking, or reassurance is simply stirring the water again.
Sometimes the thing keeping you unsettled isn’t what happened.
It’s how often you keep checking, analyzing, replaying, researching, explaining, or trying to make yourself feel better about it.
Think of muddy water.
Left alone, the sediment settles.
Keep stirring it to see if it has settled yet, and you create another round of movement.
Not every uncomfortable thought or feeling needs your involvement.
There’s a difference between addressing something that needs your attention and repeatedly interfering with an experience that may naturally quiet when you stop feeding it.