When You Feel Stuck Overthinking, Try Asking This.
Stuck in regret and “what ifs”? What if asking one simple question could change how you see your struggles—and help you move forward? Discover how to shift your mindset and find balance today.
ANXIETY
Khushboo- psychologist
6/16/20251 min read
When life feels messy or hard, it’s easy to get caught in a spiral of thoughts. You might keep thinking, “I should have done this,” or “I should have done that.” These thoughts can make you feel worse and stop you from moving forward.
But what if you tried asking yourself a different question? Instead of focusing on what you didn’t do, ask: What is the worst thing that could happen to me? This question helps you step back and see things more clearly.
Most of the time, we think only about the positive side — what could have gone right — and forget that what is happening now might be better than the worst that could have happened. For example, if you lost a job, you might worry about how bad it is. But maybe you would have been stuck in the same old job, regretting, with no growth, and feeling embarrassed by missed opportunities. You are here now, and you are doing better than you think. This kind of thinking helps balance your mind. It stops you from always seeing things as better than they are and helps you face reality more kindly.
Another way to help yourself is to think about what a good friend would say if they were in your situation. Would you tell them, “You’re a loser” or “You should have done better”? Probably not. Most people would be kind and supportive to a friend who is struggling.
We tend to be much harder on ourselves than on others. When you change your thoughts from blame and regret to kindness and understanding, it becomes easier to heal and grow. This shift helps you take small steps to improve your situation instead of feeling stuck.
So, next time your mind says, “I should have…”, pause and ask yourself: What is the worst that could happen? Are you in a better place than the worst thing you imagined? Then think about what you would tell a friend in the same place.
Give yourself the same compassion you would offer others. Focus on small actions, one step at a time. That’s how progress begins.
