Shadowing Practice: I used to overthink everything, and this changed it. - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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You're lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.
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You're lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.
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Your body is ready to sleep,
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but your brain, your mind is running a marathon.
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It's stuck replaying the conversation from three days ago,
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dissecting every word, every pause.
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Why did you say that?
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Did I sound like an idiot?
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Or maybe you're about to start something new,
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something you are actually excited about,
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but before you can even take the first step,
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your brain thinks about a hundred different the worst case scenario.
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You tell yourself you're just being thorough.
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You're just planning, preparing, problem solving.
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But what if that's a lie you're telling yourself?
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What if all this thinking isn't getting you to a better solution,
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but is actually keeping you from any solution at all?
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There's a thief that has been quietly robbing you blind.
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It doesn't take your wallet or your TV.
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It steals something so much valuable.
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It steals the joy that you could be feeling right now.
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It seals your ability to just move forward,
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to take a chance and to live the life that is waiting for you.
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This thief is overthinking.
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And today, we are not just going to talk about it.
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We are going to learn how to catch it,
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disarm it and take back your mental space for good.
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Also, I want to say thank you to this person who asked today's question.
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This video is actually started from that question.
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So let me read the comment first.
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The comment from our friend was,
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I have something I want to ask.
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How do you manage not to overthink too much about what's happening around you?
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Sometimes I make small mistakes in the way I communicate and I also tend to overthink everything around me.
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If you were in my position,
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what do you think you would do better or differently?
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Personally, I often write in a journal to a lot of self-reflection and try to turn inward,
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but I still find myself stuck in the same mental loop sometimes.
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Thank you so much.
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So let's talk about it and welcome back to this episode of This is Hazel.
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First of all, overthinking is not a personality trait.
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It's not who you are.
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It's just a learned mental habit,
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like repetitive program that feels productive but actually goes nowhere in psychology
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that breaks this overthinking process down into two types first rumination
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which is replaying the past and second worry which is imagining future threats
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and this fifth is very convincing because it tells you
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if you just think a little bit more you'll find a perfect answer.
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It disguises itself as preparation.
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It makes you believe that if you imagine every worst case scenario,
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you'll somehow avoid them.
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But that's not true.
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This habit turns simple decisions into overwhelming ones.
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It replays your mistakes over and over again.
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It fills your nights with noise when you're supposed to be resting or sleeping.
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And maybe the worst part is,
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It takes away your present.
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You can be sitting with your friends,
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but you're not really there.
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You're replaying something you said at work,
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worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet.
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Like your body is there, but your mind isn't.
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And over time, it drains your energy,
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increases your anxiety, and eventually leaves you with the feeling of too afraid to make a move,
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so you can't make the move.
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Okay, to stop this, we need to understand why it happens.
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Overthinking isn't your brain trying to sabotage you.
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It's actually trying to protect you.
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It's not totally a bad thing.
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Back then, being able to analyze threats,
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learn from the past, your mistakes,
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unprepared for the future was essential for survival.
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That part of your brain is actually very useful.
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You need to know what's coming and you need to know what to learn from the past, right?
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You need to know if something goes wrong or some things might be your threats.
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Today is different.
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Now your brain reacts to things like a text message,
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a deadline, or slightly awkward social moments.
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So in the end, how much you think,
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how much we worry, and how much time we spend on it,
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that's something we need to decide and regulate ourselves.
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Because this overthinking is actually a function,
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a capability of our mind, not just anxiety.
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So it's all about control.
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Your brain is trying to create a sense of control when things feel uncertain but instead it just keeps you stuck.
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But the good news is this is learned which means it can be unlearned.
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And trust me, I'm a huge control freak too.
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Honestly, I might not even be the best person to make this video but these things helped.
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Okay, so the goal for us isn't to eliminate the thoughts.
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I think it's impossible, I think.
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It's to change your relationship with them.
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Okay, the step one.
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Notice and label The first step is simply awareness You're not judging it,
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you're just observing it When you name it,
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you create the space between you and the thought You are not the thought,
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you are the one noticing it And that weakens its power And step two,
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schedule your worry Yes, set aside a specific time to worry About like 15-20 minutes a day During that time,
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let yourself think freely write things down, analyze them, feel everything.
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In the comment, this friend mentioned journaling and that actually helped me too.
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For me, I tend to think I need to solve the problem to move on.
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I need to have the solution to be okay with it.
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But before that, organizing my emotions really helps.
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Journaling doesn't always give me solutions,
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of course, which is like my feelings,
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but it gives me the space to understand what I'm feeling and why I'm feeling this.
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And when the time is up, you stop.
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When worries come up outside that time,
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you tell yourself, I'll think about it later.
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I know it's hard.
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It's not easy.
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But interestingly, after some time passes, the emotional intensity fades.
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Solutions come more naturally after that.
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Step three, take action.
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Overthinking is strongest when you're not taking action.
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So the solution is simply move.
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Whatever it is, do it for five minutes.
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This small action breaks the thinking loop and most of the time,
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those five minutes turn into more.
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If possible, take connection that moves you closer to solving the problem.
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If not, maybe just call someone who can help and
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if even that feels like too much just go outside
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and take a walk
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that counts too overthinking quietly steals your life the goal isn't
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to have no thoughts it's to become someone who can manage
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them to acknowledge them to notice them delay them act anyway
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and come back to the present that's enough don't try to do everything at once just pick one thing
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and let me know in the comments which steps stood out to you
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and if you have your own way
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or a better way of managing your mind of course i'd love to hear
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that too um it was nice to talk to you i talked to you
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but yeah see you next time and bye
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You're going
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to Did it get hurt whatsoever?
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We can make it better Tell me,
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boy, now wouldn't that be sweet?

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Why practice speaking with this video?

This video offers a compelling exploration of overthinking, which is a common challenge many English learners face. The speaker shares personal experiences that resonate deeply with anyone who has ever found themselves trapped in a cycle of anxious thoughts. By engaging with the material, you can practice speaking in a relatable context, enhancing your vocabulary and fluency. The discussion about overthinking will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently, skills that are vital for the IELTS speaking practice. As you shadow the speaker's words, you'll not only improve your pronunciation but also learn to express complex emotions related to anxiety and self-doubt, making your conversations more impactful.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

  • Present Continuous Tense: The phrase "your mind is running a marathon" uses the present continuous tense to convey ongoing action. Practice using this tense to describe your current feelings or experiences in conversation.
  • Conditional Clauses: The speaker implies, "What if all this thinking isn't getting you to a better solution?" This conditional structure invites listeners to consider alternative outcomes. Developing your skills in conditional sentences can enhance your reasoning in discussions.
  • Questions Beginning with "What": The speaker employs rhetorical questions effectively, such as "What if that's a lie you're telling yourself?" These questions engage listeners and provoke thought. Practicing similar question forms can help you communicate your thoughts more dynamically in conversations.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you shadow the speaker, be mindful of a few pronunciation challenges. The word "overthink" can be tricky due to the transition between "over" and "think." Ensure you emphasize both syllables clearly. Additionally, the phrase "mental habit" features a linked sound that may blend in rapid speech, making it easy to mishear. Practicing these phrases regularly will help reduce hesitation and improve your overall fluency. The natural rhythm and intonation present in this video serve as a model for effective English speech, allowing learners to navigate common pronunciation traps confidently.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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