When You’re Spiraling About What’s Next, Try This
If you’re a high achiever, you probably know this feeling well.
Your brain starts spinning.
Worst-case scenarios come fast, one after the other, weirdly connected.
And suddenly, everything feels urgent, uncertain, and high stakes.
I know it because I’ve lived it.
There’s a sneaky little voice that tells me:
“If you’re not worried, you’re losing your touch.”
And if you’re anything like me, part of you believes it.
Why High Achievers Believe Worry Is Productive
Many high achievers carry an unspoken rule:
If I stay a little anxious, I’ll stay sharp.
If I keep scanning for what could go wrong, I’ll stay in control.
It feels responsible. Even strategic.
But here’s the truth:
That voice is insidious.
Because anxiety doesn’t actually improve outcomes.
It just makes the experience of living through uncertainty a whole lot harder.
The Real Cost of Overthinking Your Next Move
When you’re in a moment of transition, whether you’ve been laid off, pushed out, aged out, or you’re quietly questioning what’s next, your brain goes into overdrive.
This job market and the headlines don’t help.
They amplify urgency, fear, and scarcity.
And before you know it, you’re living in full-blown worst-case scenario mode.
I see this all the time with my clients.
And yes, I’ve been there too, often between about 1 and 3am.
But here’s what most people miss:
Catastrophizing doesn’t protect you.
It just exhausts you.
A Simple Question to Stop the Spiral
So I started interrupting that mental loop with a different question:
Not
“What if this doesn’t work out?”
“What if I can’t pay my bills?”
“What if no one ever hires me again?”
Instead:
What if everything works out okay?
I know.
That question can feel almost irresponsible.
But pause for a moment.
More often than we give credit for… things actually do work out.
Not perfectly.
Not on your original timeline.
Not in the polished, idealized version your brain imagined.
But okay.
Sometimes even better than okay.
A Perspective Shift That Changes Everything
Here’s another tool I use when I feel myself spiraling:
I imagine myself 20 years from now.
A much older, wiser version of me.
And I ask her:
“How big of a deal is this moment, really?”
Almost every time, the answer is the same:
“This? This is a blip.”
A hard day.
A tough stretch.
But not the whole story.
And definitely not the end.
You Don’t Have to Live in a Future That Hasn’t Happened
“What if everything works out okay” isn’t about denial.
And it’s definitely not toxic positivity.
It’s about choosing not to live inside a catastrophe that hasn’t actually happened.
It’s about giving your nervous system a break from constantly bracing for impact.
And it’s about creating just enough space to think clearly again.
Try This Today
For one day, try holding a different question:
What if everything works out okay?
Notice what shifts.
You might be surprised by how much lighter you feel
and how much clearer your next step becomes.
Want More Support Getting Unstuck?
If your brain tends to run fast and far into worst-case scenarios, you’re not alone.
I wrote more about how to re-center yourself here: How to Give Yourself a Break (If You’re an Overachiever)
And if you’re curious what it would look like to work with someone who understands both ambition and the power of shifting your inner narrative, book a free exploratory conversation here: https://CoachTracy.as.me/
No pressure.
Just space to think, breathe, and decide what’s next.
