what-iffing
Imagining alternate scenarios
What-iffing is the habit of imagining alternative scenarios or outcomes, typically by mentally exploring what might happen if circumstances were different.
It often carries a slightly anxious or unproductive connotation, suggesting someone dwelling on possibilities rather than dealing with reality: Stop what-iffing and just make a decision.
The term captures that restless mental state of cycling through hypotheticals, whether about past choices or future uncertainties.
Generating many ideas freely
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- ideationForming mental concepts
- possibilitiesThings that may occur
scenarios · alternatives · daydreaming · blue-sky · divergent · exploration · invention · spitballing
Uncertain possible event
- planningArranging for future events
- scenariosImagined sequences of events
- forecastingEstimating future conditions
- preparationArranging things in advance
foresight · anticipation · modeling · simulation · hedging · fallback · backup · alternatives
Dwelling excessively on thoughts
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- worryTroubled mental state
- spiralingCurving in widening circles
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
worst-case · obsessing · dwelling · dread · apprehension · uncertainty · doubt · fixating
Recognition after the fact
- regretSorrow over past actions
- reimaginingFresh interpretation of existing material
- second-guessingReconsidering a decision made
- parallelEquidistant at all points
retrospective · wondering · ruminating · revisiting · pondering · reflection · reexamining · hypotheticals
brainstorming
Generating many ideas freely
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- ideationForming mental concepts
possibilities · scenarios · alternatives · daydreaming · blue-sky · divergent · exploration · invention · spitballing · concepting
contingency
Uncertain possible event
- planningArranging for future events
- scenariosImagined sequences of events
- forecastingEstimating future conditions
preparation · foresight · anticipation · modeling · simulation · hedging · fallback · backup · alternatives · pivoting
overthinking
Dwelling excessively on thoughts
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- worryTroubled mental state
- spiralingCurving in widening circles
rumination · worst-case · obsessing · dwelling · dread · apprehension · uncertainty · doubt · fixating · looping
hindsight
Recognition after the fact
- regretSorrow over past actions
- reimaginingFresh interpretation of existing material
- second-guessingReconsidering a decision made
parallel · retrospective · wondering · ruminating · revisiting · pondering · reflection · reexamining · hypotheticals · do-over
what-iffingmindfulness
Awareness of the present
grounding · presence · centering · groundedness · attentiveness
what-iffingacceptance
Consent to receive
radical acceptance · letting go · equanimity · surrendering · coming to terms
what-iffingtaking action
Initiating purposeful effort
doing · problem-solving · moving forward · decisive action · execution