How I Stopped Overthinking Every Decision
The one somatic practice that finally helped me trust myself and do what's right for me.
It’s a short one today, folks - but still meaningful, of course!
Making decisions is hard. No one tells you that it makes up about 90% of adulting (okay, maybe not quite that much, but it definitely can feel like it).
And if you’re a perfectionist or people-pleaser?
Even choosing what to eat for dinner or which film to watch can feel excruciating and overwhelming.
So today, I wanted to share the one practice that helped me shift out of that stuck place and finally start hearing myself again.
After publishing the 3-part Burnout Series, I figured we could all use a little brain break, myself included! So this post is short, sweet and practical.
The exercise I’m about to share will get you out of your head and into your body, which is exactly what we need when we’re caught in decision paralysis and overwhelm.
A bonus, is that it also happens to be brilliant for:
a) burnout prevention and recovery, plus
b) turning down the volume on that relentless overthinking.
If you struggle with making decisions that feel right for you and honour your needs, you’re not alone. But the truth is, the best decisions often don’t come from thinking.
They come from feeling.
This one simple practice will help you do just that.
And, it’s honestly changed how I make decisions, for good.
The Self-Trust Exercise
Here’s how it works:
Close your eyes and turn your attention inwards.
Let the external world fall away for a moment and notice what’s happening in your body. What sensations are present?Think about the decision or challenge you’re facing.
Now imagine yourself doing the thing. Visualise it clearly. Picture yourself taking the action. What is happening in this scene?Tune in.
How does it feel to imagine doing it?
What’s happening in your body? Tightness? Softness? Energy? Heaviness? It might be super subtle, just notice.Now flip it. Imagine not doing the thing.
Visualise that instead.
How does that feel? What shifts inside you? Do you relax or tense up? Do you feel a knot in your stomach?Compare.
Which one felt better? Which felt easier? Which had less resistance?
You don’t have to explain it. You might not even be able to put it into words.
All you need to do is notice which scenario felt better, because I can guarantee one of them always will.
And that quiet, felt sense?
That’s your inner knowing.
That’s the part of you that already knows what’s best and has your highest interests at heart. Call it what you want – your Highest Self, your True Self, your intuition or sixth sense… it doesn’t matter. Whatever you call it, it’s you, at your core.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking….
That’s all very well and good Amy, but…
Sometimes we know what’s right for us - and we still don’t choose it.
We say yes when we want to say no.
We push through when we need to rest.
We people-please, over-give and override ourselves, even when something doesn’t feel right.
This isn’t because you’re a push-over or weak-willed. It’s because you’ve been conditioned to doubt your inner signals. You've been taught to prioritise being liked, needed or good over being well and getting your own needs met.
So if you start listening to your body and it starts telling you what it needs, but you don’t act on it right away? That’s ok. These things take time, they take practice. You’re unlearning years of unhelpful messaging and relearning how to trust yourself.
Noticing is the first step.
Just start here, start small. Start by asking your body how it feels and what it needs. That can be enough for now.
What decision are you sitting with right now?
Try this practice and see what comes up.
Leave a comment me and let me know how it lands for you.
Speak Soon,
Amy x
Please click the 🤍 if this was helpful or interesting to you and restack it, if you think others might like it too.
Hey Overthinker is a kind and supportive place for exhausted high-achievers, people-pleasers and perfectionists. Learn how to trade self-criticism for self-compassion, productivity for presence and shame for self-acceptance. Join the club and subscribe today so you don’t miss a post (it’s free!)