Emotionally intelligent people use this simple phrase to stop overthinking

Overthinking can turn every decision into a maze of doubts, draining your energy and stalling progress. Yet emotionally intelligent individuals break free with just three words—here’s how you can, too.

Why we get trapped in overthinking

We’ve all been there: staring at two equally promising job candidates, juggling conflicting data or mulling over a personal dilemma until our head feels ready to pop. Psychologists call this analysis paralysis, a state where the fear of making the wrong call stops us from making any call at all. Analysis paralysis can impair our decision-making and increase anxiety and stress levels, turning simple choices into swirling loops of indecision¹.

I remember early in my career, tasked with recruiting my first team. I obsessed over CVs and feedback until I felt utterly paralysed. If you’ve experienced that “what if I get it wrong?” dread, you’ll know how quickly doubts can spiral, turning a straightforward choice into a weeks-long ordeal.

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The power of “give it a go”

Enter the three-word mantra that emotionally agile people swear by: give it a go. This simple phrase reframes decision-making as a trial-and-error process rather than a high-stakes gamble. Daniel Goleman², renowned for his work on emotional intelligence, emphasises that our ability to manage emotions is key to effective leadership and clear thinking. By reminding ourselves to just take the first step, we sidestep the endless “what-ifs” and focus on gathering real-world data.

This isn’t about recklessness or diving in blind. It’s about recognising that not all risks are catastrophic and that we learn fastest when we act. As Harvard Business Review³ points out, leaders who adopt a growth mindset are more willing to experiment, adapt and innovate—qualities that set successful teams apart.

Putting the phrase into action

Here’s how to weave give it a go into your daily routine:

• Clarify the issue
  Pinpoint what you can control. If it’s out of your hands, it may be wiser to let go and focus your energy elsewhere.

• Narrow your options
  List possible actions, then trim that list to two or three realistic choices. Too many paths only fuel indecision.

• Set a deadline
  Give yourself a clear timeframe—say, by Friday afternoon—to decide. A looming deadline turns vague intentions into concrete steps.

Once you’ve chosen, give it a go—treat your decision as an experiment rather than a make-or-break gamble.

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Embracing lessons, not failures

Here’s where the beauty of this mantra shines. If your experiment doesn’t pan out, it’s not a disaster—it’s data. You can pivot to plan B with greater wisdom. Even if you have to backtrack, you’ve gained insights that sharpen your next choice. As the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development notes, reflecting on setbacks builds resilience and boosts future performance⁴.

In essence, give it a go transforms the unknown from a threat into an opportunity. It reminds us that time is often more precious than perfection. Sitting on the fence can cost us as much—if not more—than bravely kicking off an imperfect plan.

So next time you catch yourself spinning your wheels, take a breath, utter those three words and step forward. After all, the more you experiment, the more confident (and competent) you become at charting your own course.

Sources

1. “What Is Analysis Paralysis?,” Verywell Mind.
   https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-analysis-paralysis-5223790

2. Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, Bantam, 1995.
   https://learnsteer.sasnaka.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Emotional%20Intelligence%20Why%20it%20Can%20Matter%20More%20Than%20IQ%20%28Daniel%20Goleman%29%20%28z-lib.org%29.pdf

3. Carol S. Dweck, “What Having a Growth Mindset Actually Means,” Harvard Business Review.
   https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means

4. “Resilience strategies,” Verywell Mind.
   https://www.verywellmind.com/ways-to-become-more-resilient-2795063