Most advice for overthinking has you focus on the thoughts themselves. Journal them. Replace negative ones with positive ones. Breathe. Meditate. Run. But what if the thoughts aren't the problem?

Epictetus taught that it's not events that disturb us, but our judgements about them. Overthinking isn't a volume problem — it's a judgement problem. Somewhere in the loop, you added a meaning to something that was otherwise neutral. And that meaning is what's keeping you awake.

In this episode I walk through phantasia — the Stoic science of impressions — and three exercises for catching the judgement before it spirals: stripping back to the first impression, applying the dichotomy of control to your thoughts, and the rational observer technique.

Free 7-Day Stoic Challenge: stoicchallenge.co
The Stoic Vault (weekly practice + coaching): stoicvault.com