3.19 Shade Zahrai: Overthinking Kills Joy

“If you tell yourself something often enough, you’ll start to believe it. So say nice things to yourself about yourself.” - Shade Zahrai

I have an overthinking problem that I can sometimes manage and can’t at other times. It can steal my focus, drive, and joy, so I have had to work to overcome it.

Peak performance educator Shade Zahrai made a short video describing how and why overthinking can kill your joy by hijacking your experiences. Research shows what you think about can be a stronger predictor of happiness than what you are actually doing or experiencing.

She says if you want to feel better, start by noticing where your mind is and where it wanders to and from. Doing quick check-ins throughout the day where you ask yourself, “What’s on my mind right ?” can help you identify patterns and refocus patterns.

Here are a few other things I do to overcome overthinking:

1 - Walk or workout in the morning: Moving and exercising bring me clarity and focus and help me feel better.
2 - Write or journal: This helps me gather my thoughts and focus on what I need to do.
3 - Practice Gratefulness: You can’t be grateful and sad at the same time, so thinking about 3 to 5 things that I am grateful for helps me regain control and feel better.
4 - Read or listen to a devotional: My faith is my foundation. Devotionals reset me by reminding me what matters most.

None of these tools are magic tricks that change everything, but they do make me and my life better, more productive, and more enjoyable.

Questions of the Day: How do you stop overthinking from stealing your focus, confidence, and joy?