In life, some people take things as they come, while others, like me, tend to think too much before making a move. There was a time when this habit almost stopped me from doing something important, and it taught me a big lesson about knowing when to stop thinking and start acting.
It happened when I was given an opportunity to speak at a big event. It was a leadership conference, and I was invited to share my experiences. At first, I was excited. It was an honor to be chosen, and I knew I had valuable things to say. But after a few days, excitement turned into anxiety.
I started asking myself too many questions. What if I forget my words? What if people don’t take me seriously? What if someone in the audience knows more than me and challenges my points? Instead of preparing with confidence, I was creating fear in my own mind.
I spent hours practicing, but no matter how much I prepared, I kept thinking about everything that could go wrong. I watched videos of great speakers, comparing myself to them and feeling like I wasn’t good enough. The night before the event, I barely slept. My heart was heavy, and a part of me even thought about calling to cancel.
Then, on the morning of the event, something happened that changed my perspective. A close friend called me and said, “You are focusing too much on yourself. Instead of worrying about how you will perform, think about the people who need to hear your message. What if someone in that audience is waiting for your words to change their life?”
That hit me differently. I realized that overthinking had made me selfish—I was more worried about how I would look instead of the impact I could make. I took a deep breath, dressed up, and told myself, “I have prepared. Now, I will trust myself.”
When I stepped on stage, my heart was still beating fast, but I focused on the audience, not my fears. I spoke from my heart, and to my surprise, people were engaged. They nodded, they took notes, and after my speech, many came to thank me for sharing something meaningful.
That day, I learned an important lesson: overthinking doesn’t solve problems, it only creates fear. Most times, the things we are scared of never even happen. If I had allowed my doubts to control me, I would have missed that great opportunity.
Now, whenever I find myself overthinking, I pause and ask, “What is the worst that can happen?” Most times, the answer is not as bad as my mind makes it seem. I remind myself that preparation is good, but there is a point where you have to stop doubting and start doing. Life is too short to let fear steal great moments from us. Sometimes, we just have to step forward and trust that we are ready.
Thanks so much for Reading.