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Hold That Thought

from Kim Witten, PhD

Helping overwhelmed creatives turn overthinking into expert thinking. 3 useful things every Thursday to gain clarity, get more done, and feel great about it.

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Hobbies, hustles, careers, and life quests, oh my!

Don't pin the butterfly Photo by serikbaib from Getty Images Last week we explored developing your Vision. This week I've been thinking about what it might take to create that. Here are three things on that theme to help turn overthinking into expert thinking: 1. Your Mission (statement), if you choose to accept it, is the work it takes to create your Vision. I've made another worksheet to help you with exactly that. Download your editable Mission Worksheet (PDF): Clarify and develop your...

7 days ago • 2 min read

Yet. Retro red car with luggage by Michal Collection This week I've been thinking about creating a vision (and how we get there). Here are three things on that theme to help turn overthinking into expert thinking: Start creating a vision of the world you want. My updated and expanded free worksheet comes with simple instructions, an example to guide you, and five common pitfalls to avoid. Creating your vision matters because “…the more clearly you know how you want to spend your days, the...

14 days ago • 1 min read
A cobweb against a gradient background. Quote by Dan Shipper in foreground.

Spider-like, bee-like, river-like… Cobweb by sergiimostovyi This week I've been thinking about what happens when you do something different. Here are three things on that theme to help turn overthinking into expert thinking: What happens when you admit what is obvious – how Every's Dan Shipper discovered he was more of a writer than a founder. What happens when you hold your tongue – it took over ten years and 6000 miles to temper the cultural tendencies of my upbringing, and I found some...

21 days ago • 1 min read

Hold That Thought… Parrots facing each other by Richard Jacyno from Getty Images This week I've been thinking about people-pleasing. Here are three things on that theme to help turn overthinking into expert thinking: “I’m pretty sure my life began when I became willing to disappoint people” by Isabel Don't tell me what to do; please like me! A new one by me about the two faces hiding behind all our social interactions. “Moderate emotional discomfort is a signal that you’re developing as a...

28 days ago • 2 min read

Ladders are useful. Cloud image by dr911 from Getty Images. Back to basics this week, as I'm thinking about overthinking! Here are three things on that theme to help us climb our way to productive contemplation: “This process involves questioning whether a thought contributes to solving a problem or improving understanding. If it doesn’t, it may be categorized as unproductive rumination…” and nine other strategies for overcoming overthinking by author and editor Ali Alzahrani A Thought Ladder...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Holding ideas lightly… My Vent Diagram of the next big thing This week I've been exploring ideas around expectations. We have them, we haven't a clue, we seem to contradict ourselves. Here are three things (loosely) on that theme to help turn overthinking into expert thinking…and action! “Perfectionism is the inability to let your expectations go.” – Good enough is just fine by Lawrence Yeo While researching The Problem With Coaching, I struggled to find a good reference for what you can...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Knowing and not knowing Stack of pancakes by kamranaydinov This week I've been thinking about knowing (and not knowing). Here are three things on that theme to help turn overthinking into expert thinking…and action! The First Pancake Principle – How to get started (and keep going) on creative projects, by Jason McBride Everyone knows something you don't. Even the naysayer – thoughts on the value of negativity, by me Everything is experience – another one by me! Extra thoughts… Two articles...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read
An empty bus stop at night, with the word 'when' written on the street in front of it.

“Take your feelings along for the ride, whatever they may be.” — the Coach-Up Bus stop by Pomemick from Getty Images This week I've been thinking about motivation — what it is and when it is. Here are three things on that theme to help turn overthinking into expert thinking…and action! “Motivation follows action, not the other way around” — 9 minutes of The Coach-Up will help you get started (even when you don't want to). Why problems vs. when problems — what I got wrong about motivation If...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read

Free speed coaching is back! Darkroom by Maxiphoto from Getty Images Signature Hello! I'm extra excited to share this week's three links with you because I know they'll lead to great conversations: Great conversations have lots of doorknobs by Adam Mastroianni This is what happens in the best type of conversations, by Jakob Greenfield Up for an amazing conversation? At least once a year, I fling open the Calendly doors for free, 20-minute individual speed coaching sessions. That time is now!...

2 months ago • 1 min read

The process is always the same — that’s why you can trust it Darkroom by Maxiphoto from Getty Images Signature This week I've been thinking about process—what it is and why we can trust it. Here are three picks on that theme to help you turn overthinking into expert thinking: “Trusting the process means knowing that, like the start of any experiment, there will be results.” — by me, on what to do when you're feeling doubt about your work “A process is simply the steps it takes to complete a...

2 months ago • 1 min read
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