5 Reasons Why (and How) to Break Out of Analytical Anxiety

A client of mine was experiencing anxiety over a major decision she had to make. She was going back and forth, gathering endless facts and combing over the pluses and minuses, not to mention asking everyone’s opinion. She entered our session sleep-deprived and anxiety-ridden.

“What is your intuition telling you?” I asked.

“Intuition? I don’t know what you mean,” she said. “I tend to look to experts for insights, then analyze my options.”

I asked her to think back to when she was a child. “How did you decide what you wanted to do?”

“I did things without thinking about them,” she answered. “Now I obsessively think, become anxious, and wind up stuck!”

Analytical thinking allows us to perceive, understand, and problem-solve to make decisions. Our current educational system encourages us to cultivate this skill. But falling prey to overthinking can lead to worry, apprehension, and doubt, all which results in anxiety that paralyzes us. We then tend to default to the choice that makes the most logical sense only to ultimately find ourselves feeling unfulfilled. That’s because we weren’t listening holistically.

Anxiety cuts off access to subconscious insights that a more instinctive approach to decision-making can offer. In other words, our mind can get in the way of our ability to recognize our best course of action. We need to allow space for the desires of our soul and innermost feelings to emerge.

Instinctive thinking is an innate and automatic process that draws on intuition or gut feelings. Intuition can provide immediate understanding without the need for conscious reasoning and can be a powerful tool for making decisions. We are not generally encouraged to cultivate our instinctive thinking, which could be critical to balancing our analytical mind and, at times, even overriding it.

5 Benefits of Breaking Out of Analytical Thinking

Our intuition is a form of unconscious cognitive activity that allows us to access our subconscious mind. Accessing our subconscious is important because it stores deeply ingrained beliefs, memories, emotions, and desires that can provide insight into what we need to feel fulfilled on a soul level. Tapping into our instincts and intuition can deliver the following five benefits, which will help to reduce the anxiety inherent in decision-making.

Creative Breakthroughs

Intuiting allows for rapid, associative thinking and idea generation without the constraints of logic. This often inspires breakthroughs and innovative solutions that can help us approach life with fresh eyes.

Soul Satisfaction

Considering our emotions, subconscious knowledge, and gut feelings results in more balanced decisions that are aligned with our unique life path. This will result in greater satisfaction with life on a soul level.

Self-Awareness

Becoming aware of negative thought patterns and limiting beliefs enables us to recognize and potentially change them. This will support a more expansive life experience.

Confidence

Learning to trust our instincts means no more second-guessing our decisions or defaulting to the opinions of others. Confidence radiates into all areas of our lives—the result is peace and better sleep.

Improved Health

The mind, body, and spirit are interconnected and influence each other. Thereby, uncovering and recasting subconscious beliefs can improve our holistic health and well-being.

5 Ways to Practice Instinctive Thinking

Our mind will always try to step in. This is its nature. In order to reduce any anxiety produced by overthinking, we need to develop our intuition. This requires practice and space. These five methods can help deepen the connection to our intuition.

Mindfulness

Practices like meditation, yoga, tai chi, prayer, and forest bathing actively direct our attention to the present moment. Presence disengages us from the habitual patterns of thinking and rumination that belong to the analytical mind and opens the door to intuitive insights.

Journaling

This practice allows us to empty our minds onto paper, thereby releasing the mental weight of our thoughts. The result is space for new ideas and realizations to emerge. Ask yourself how you feel and what you want, and write your thoughts, ideas, and impressions as they come to mind without analyzing or judging them.

Silence

Silence removes external stimuli that activates the brain, allowing for a more introspective state. The mind quiets down and experiences deeper self-reflection and relaxation.

Play

Play engages the brain in a more spontaneous and open state because the prefrontal cortex responsible for focused attention and conscious decision-making is less actively engaged. Creativity flows.

Inner Focus

Making a habit of tuning into our intuition before seeking the opinions of third parties encourages a more instinctive approach to life. After some practice, we will begin to regularly receive welcome revelations.

Discover how to swap anxiety for joy.