The two questions that can stop overthinking in its tracks with Lael Stone

Your colleague doesn’t reply to your email. Days pass. Your mind spins - do they not like me, do they not want me on the project, or are they just busy? It’s these unhelpful stories that quietly drain our energy. But what if there were two simple questions that could reset your perspective in moments like these? 

In this episode of How I Work, I sit down with educator and author Lael Stone, whose new book Own Your Story explores how the stories we tell ourselves shape the way we live and work. 

Lael shares the two reflection questions she uses daily to interrupt spirals of self-doubt and comparison. She also coaches me through my own struggles while writing my fifth book, showing how shifting perspective can help us feel lighter, more energised, and in flow. 

By the end of this chat, you’ll have a practical mental reset you can use any time - whether at work, at home, or in the middle of a 3am overthinking spiral. 

We discuss: 

• The two questions Lael uses every day to reset perspective
• How to pause spirals of self-doubt with “What am I making this mean?”
• Why “What do I want this to look like?” opens us up to new possibilities
• Lael coaching me through my own writing doubts and pressures
• How comparison keeps us stuck and what to do instead
• The role of childhood imprints in shaping our beliefs about work, money, and relationships
• Why most of us never learned what a healthy boundary looks like - and how to create them as adults
• Why setting boundaries is an act of self-love 

Key Quotes 

“What am I making this mean? Can be a pattern interrupt question to actually stop and go, what is the story here?” 

“It feels very freeing to realise I could actually change this. I could change what this means for me.” 

Connect with Lael Stone on Instagram, LinkedIn and her website, and check out her latest book Own Your Story. 

 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ 

Connect with me on the socials: 
Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. 

Get in touch at [email protected] 

Credits: 
Host: Amantha Imber 
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.