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The Mind's Sabotage: When Our Own Thoughts Become Our Worst Enemy in Decision-Making

Writer's picture: Deb EternalDeb Eternal

We’ve all been there. You’ve deliberated for days, weighing the pros and cons, and finally, you make a decision. Then, in the eleventh hour, doubt creeps in. You start to second-guess yourself, not because the facts have changed, but because someone else’s attitude or opinion has infiltrated your thought process. In a moment, your mind, which should be your greatest ally, becomes your worst enemy. Let’s explore why this happens and how to combat it.


Woman touching her forehead trying to ease her thoughts
Overthinking

The Paralysis of Overthinking


Our minds are powerful tools, capable of incredible feats of reasoning and creativity. However, this power can also turn against us. Overthinking is one of the main ways our minds sabotage our decision-making. When faced with a decision, our brains can spiral into an endless loop of “what ifs” and “maybes,” each new hypothetical scenario casting doubt on our original choice. This mental paralysis can leave us stuck, unable to move forward.


The Influence of External Opinions


We are social creatures, and the opinions of others matter to us. This is especially true when those opinions come from people we respect or care about. When someone else’s attitude about a situation contradicts our own, it can create internal conflict. This conflict can be so intense that it causes us to change our minds at the last minute, abandoning our carefully considered decision in favour of one that aligns with the external influence.


The Fear of Regret


Regret is a powerful emotion, and the fear of making a choice we might later regret can be paralyzing. Our minds often trick us into thinking that changing our carefully reasoned decision, in response to external opinions will prevent regret. However, this is rarely the case. In fact, allowing others to dictate our choices often leads to even greater regret, as we realize that we’ve compromised our true desires and values.


The Role of Self-Doubt


Self-doubt is another way our minds undermine our decision-making. When someone else expresses a strong opinion, it can amplify our own insecurities. We start to question our judgment and capabilities. This internalized doubt can become so overwhelming that we change our decision just to quiet the inner turmoil, even if it means going against our better judgment.


Woman on couch thinking
Inner Turmoil Often Leads to Self-Doubt


Combating the Mind’s Sabotage


1. Self-Awareness: The first step in combating mental sabotage is recognizing when it’s happening. Pay attention to your thought patterns and notice when you’re slipping into overthinking or allowing external opinions to overshadow your own.


2. Confidence in Your Decisions: Build confidence in your decision-making process. Trust that you’ve considered all the relevant information and made the best choice based on what you know. Remind yourself of past decisions that turned out well to reinforce this confidence.


3. Set Boundaries: It’s important to listen to others, but you need to set boundaries. Decide whose opinions truly matter and whose do not. Seek advice from trusted sources, but don’t let unsolicited opinions derail you.


4. Mindfulness Practices: Incorporate mindfulness practices like meditation or journaling into your routine. These can help quiet the mental noise and bring clarity to your thoughts, making it easier to stick to your decisions.


5. Prepare for Second-Guessing: Accept that second-guessing is a natural part of decision-making. Instead of fighting it, prepare for it. Write down your reasons for making a decision and revisit them if doubt starts to creep in. This can help reinforce your original choice.


6. Visualize the Outcome: Spend time visualizing the positive outcome of your decision. This can create a mental image that reinforces your choice and counters any negative external influences.


Our minds can be our own worst enemies, especially when it comes to decision-making. The key to overcoming this lies in self-awareness, confidence, and the ability to set boundaries with external influences. By recognizing the ways our thoughts can sabotage us, we can take steps to ensure that our decisions are truly our own, leading to greater satisfaction and less regret.



Girl Celebrating Success
You Have the Power

Remember, the power of decision lies within you—don’t let your mind convince you otherwise.


Namaste`

Deb xx


Inspired reading*


Book Cover The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest
The Mountain Is YOU

Book Cover You Are A Badass
You Are a BADASS

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