Entrepreneurship can be a chaotic journey in itself.
Now, Imagine adding a chaotic mind into the mix.
Next-level chaos in life and in business.
This one’s for the entrepreneurial overthinkers out there.
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Thinking: the Greatest Tool for Entrepreneurs
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For leaders and entrepreneurs alike, our mind isn’t just a tool; it’s the very essence of our craft—the invisible force driving us forward. The fundamental element behind every good idea.
Your thinking strategy has served you well in the past —in fact, it probably got you where you are.
But here’s the thing; many of us have turned our brilliant minds into a machine that never takes a break.
Let’s admit it, it can feel exhausting.
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Life As An Overthinking Entrepreneur
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For most of my life, my mind was filled with fears, worries and insecurities. Battling them became a routine, a game I’d occasionally win. This constant inner battle allowed me to achieve goals and progress in my business.
But…
Conquering one fear, worry or insecurity merely paved the way for another to take its place.
At some point, the revelation hit— I was an overthinker.
Since that moment, I embarked on a journey to uncover a solution.
How liberating it would be to silence the perpetual chatter in my head!
In this quest, I tried everything —from high-end coaching, to meditation, to NLP, to travelling to the other side of the world to escape my reality.
These sometimes helped, but not for long.
And then I found a surprisingly simple answer.
One that gets missed even by some of the best coaches and thinkers out there.
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Understanding Overthinking: the Mind’s Survival Strategy
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Overthinking, as it turns out, is a survival strategy crafted by the mind with good intentions—to keep you safe.
Yes, you read it right—overthinking is a strategy. Only a subconscious one.
Take a moment and think—did worry and insecurity consume you when you were three years old?
Probably not. We acquire this habit as we grow up.
If overthinking is your go-to strategy, it’s because, at some point, you perceived it as helpful.
After all, we tend to acquire strategies that make sense at the time—even if they leave us feeling less than stellar.
So, how can we get rid of it?
Many coaches and gurus advocate for taking control of your mind.
I can tell you now, from a decade of unsuccessful attempts, that this sounds absurd.
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Controlling Your Thoughts Does NOT Work
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No, this post isn’t about wrestling with overthinking or taking control of your thoughts. That’s something I’ve tried for years— and while it helped me improve the quality of my life, it didn’t break the overthinking pattern.
Remember what Einstein said: “You can’t solve a problem with the same thinking that created it.” So, trying to solve overthinking by using the same thinking that created it in the first place is like trying to calm a storm by creating more wind.
If overthinking persists as a strategy in your mental playbook, it means deep down you still consider it a good one.
For instance, if you find yourself caught in a loop of worrying about the future, it’s because you subconsciously perceive worry as somehow helpful. Even if you’re not aware of it.
And here’s the thing. Thought is a powerful force. Attempting to combat it head-on is a battle you’re likely to lose. Trying to control your subconscious is like to trying to empty the ocean with a bucket. Good luck with that.
So, what is the real revelation?
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The Real Solution: Seeing Through the Illusion
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The only way to truly stop overthinking is to genuinely realise it’s unhelpful.
When this insight happens, your mind adjusts to a new reality where overthinking stops making sense. And then the storm will start to slow down by itself.
I was one of those who tried to empty the ocean with a bucket.
Until I had this insight.
And then, without doing anything about it, the chatter in my head went almost completely silent by itself.
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As a conclusion…
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The real question is not: how do we overcome overthinking?
But: how do we make this shift in understanding where overthinking will stop making sense?
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Stay tuned for future posts.
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With love,
A recovering overthinker.
