How to press your ESCAPE button on the deluge of 'What If?'s
E83: Four ways to overcome the analysis paralysis of your brain
When I was at school, we learned how to write computer programmes. This was long before LLMs (Language Learning Models) infiltrated our daily lexicon. It was pretty basic. In fact, we were using "BBC BASIC".
One of the first programmes I wrote looked like this
There’s a treasure trove of similar commands I was using in the 1980s here.
When I typed “RUN,” the screen filled with "HELLO" endlessly, scrolling up until I pressed the “ESCAPE” key.
The ESCAPE key for your brain
What do you do when you’re running an endless programme of ‘What if?’s?
Clients often ask me:
What if my ideal clients don’t give me work and I can’t make partner?
What if my team think I’m weak if I share that I’m feeling low today?
What if my cancer comes back?
What if the real estate market stays quiet and my practice collapses?
While ‘What if?’s can help us prepare and plan, they can also trap us in a “GOTO 10” loop of paralysis.
How do we press the ESCAPE button to stop this endless loop?
Just like the simple programme I wrote, our ‘What if?’s are simply words forming thoughts and ideas. They aren’t necessarily true, but we easily accept them as such. They become our truth.
What if you could press ESCAPE and acknowledge that these ‘What if?’s are just thoughts.
What if you could rewrite lines 10 and 20, and change the actions that your words command?
If you were to rewrite your script, what thoughts and actions might arise instead?
Four Ways to Press Your ESCAPE Button
1. Address Root Causes: When you’re feeling anxious and in an endless loop of “How will thinking differently help me?”, trying to think away your thoughts can be difficult when your nervous system is dysregulated. Nervous system dysregulation often starts with an inflammatory diet that sends your blood sugar on a rollercoaster ride. Check out Edition 66 for ideas to put your health first and brain last. 👇
2. Let Your Body Lead: Use the 2-step framework I shared in Edition 64 to tap into your body's wisdom, not just your brain.👇
3. Embrace Courage in Your Heart: Find the courage in your heart to press ESCAPE with Edition 82. 👇
4. Create Space for Yourself: When rushing around, pressing ESCAPE might feel impossible. In Edition 71, I share ideas on creating space for yourself and rediscovering your ESCAPE button.👇
👉 Over to you!
What might be possible if you could press ESCAPE on your ‘What if?’s?
If you’re an entrepreneur, a lawyer, or a high-flying professional looking to live and lead more effortlessly, or you’re struggling to live with a chronic condition with more ease, let’s have a conversation.
That’s it for this week!
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To your health and success!
Eric
...love this idea as an escape unto itself bud...just press escape on my mind and let whatever else might be there fill the space (until i press escape again)...making what if's into the single stack is good too...what if becomes when, or how...a lot more fun...
A relevant topic to all of us over thinkers! Outside of general brain and body health, I also practice the stoic approach of Negative Visualization. Actually thinking through what the "worst" case scenario is, coming to terms with it, then moving forward with renewed understanding. I've found this works for MOST scenarios where the what if's get out of control.