You’ve seen it happen before, I’m sure.

Someone walks into the room, shoulders back, voice steady and loud, speaking in decisive statements. Within minutes, the room leans in. People nod. Assumptions are made:

They must know what they’re talking about.
They’ve done the work.
They’re leadership material.

No one has checked the facts yet.

That invisible glow around them? That’s called the halo effect…

Have you ever found yourself caught in an endless loop of thoughts, struggling to break free? It’s a familiar sensation for many of us—those moments when our minds race uncontrollably, leading us down the dark alley of overwhelm and anxiety.

I remember a time when I was 24 and stepping up in my career, preparing for an important interview. The night before, I lay in bed, replaying every possible scenario in my head, from forgetting my main points to fumbling over my words. As the minutes turned into hours, sleep eluded me, and my anxiety grew heavier. At that moment, I felt trapped in a cycle of overthinking, unable to see a way out. - Sound familiar?