Last evening, my sister Diana and I found ourselves in a cozy downtown café, sharing truffles, when Diana shared about her work. “I think I messed it up,” she said.
I raised an eyebrow, “Messed what up?”
“My meeting at work today,” she continued, sighing deeply. “My manager paused for a second too long when I answered her question and then, later, she didn’t CC me on that follow-up email. What if she’s lost confidence in me?” Her voice trailed off. I interrupted, gently placing my hand on her shoulder. “Diana, you’re not in the meeting anymore. You’re in the café, with coffee in your hand. Right now, everything is okay.”
She exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing as though she was letting go of the day’s worries.
“I know it seems if we just think hard enough, we’ll unlock some secret fix, or we’ll find the one thing we missed,” I said. “The truth is, thinking over a past situation like this keeps us busy solving problems that aren’t even real yet. We get stuck in a cycle of ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes,’ but the reality is that’s not where we are. We’re right here, in this moment.”
Diana nodded, “But what if it was a sign? What if I did mess up?”
“Diana,” I said, my voice soft but firm. “You’re worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet. You don’t know how your manager feels, and honestly, worrying about it won’t change anything. What’s more important is how you’re taking care of yourself in this moment. You’re here. You’re okay. That’s enough.”
She smiled, “You’re right. I do this all the time, don’t I?”
“Yep,” I said with a playful grin. “You’re a champion at it. But we can break that habit. The next time your mind starts running laps, just remind yourself to come back to the present. Take a breath. Ground yourself.”
Diana looked at me, her expression softening. “Thanks. I needed that.”
I gave her a reassuring smile, feeling a sense of calm wash over me, too. “Anytime. I’ve got your back.”
Dear readers, overthinking can feel like you’re being productive, like you’re fixing something. Often, it’s just keeping you stuck in an endless loop. So, the next time your mind races, pause. Take a deep breath, sit down somewhere quiet, and remind yourself that the story your mind is spinning isn’t always the truth. You’re here. You’re doing your best, and that’s all that matters. Stop overthinking and start living. You’ve got this!
