Have you made a significant move lately but can’t stop thinking it was a bad decision? You wish you hadn’t done it, yet there’s no way to take it back. Replaying past events and wishing for a do-over may harm your mental health. Second-guessing not only robs you of happiness but also lowers your self-trust. Mulling over bad choices leaves you feeling miserable. For the sake of your mental stability, you need to start trusting your judgement.
What second-guessing looks like
Obsessing over a decision you’ve already made is a dead-end thought. It is neither productive nor useful. It is like being stuck on a roller coaster, yet you want to move on to something else. When second-guessing yourself, you dwell and live in the past by:
• Stressing about what you could have done or said better
• Worrying about how other people reacted or judged you
• Blaming yourself for making a quick or slow decision
• Replaying your mistakes and mishaps
• Imagining great opportunities that you missed
Analysing your recent decisions is useful when you are looking for insights and new solutions. But second-guessing exhausts the emotional and mental energy you could otherwise utilise to improve performance.
You are destroying your self-trust and self-esteem
Battling with “I wish I had” thoughts increases uncertainty in your life. You might even start to believe that your next decision will be wrong. Lack of faith in your actions means you do not trust yourself. Self-doubt makes you weak, reducing your ability to face challenges head-on. Consequently, you start seeking approval from others.
According to issued by Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, low self-esteem can make you seek indirect support through whining and sulking. Unfortunately, this approach elicits negative reactions from other people. Eventually, you’ll be more anxious or depressed. Trusting your inner voice is the first step to success. Otherwise, pessimistic thinking will stress you and lower your productivity.
Therapy as a solution for second-guessing issues
Therapy is fundamental to discovering the origin of your self-doubt. Through introspection, psychological counselling can help you build self-trust and stop rumination over past decisions. With self-awareness, you’ll discover your strengths and tackle aspects of your life that need some work. Do not let second-guessing take a toll on your mental wellbeing.
