You are in control

I want to share a personal story about how I took back control of my life, especially my thoughts and mindset. Just last year, I was going through a lot mentally. I felt powerless and insecure, constantly questioning my abilities. I believed I wasn’t smart enough, capable enough, or good enough. Instead of celebrating my achievements, I was hyper-focused on my mistakes and failures.

I was terrified of making mistakes because I thought they would confirm what I already believed about myself—that I was incompetent. If I was given a task I wasn’t familiar with, my immediate reaction was anxiety and fear. Anxiety, because I had to tackle something I’d never done before; fear, because I was convinced I’d mess it up and disappoint my colleagues or managers.

I felt weighed down by emotions, struggling with tasks that seemed so “simple” to others. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t keep living like this. After all, I couldn’t avoid unfamiliar tasks or the inevitability of mistakes. Something had to change, and that “something” was me.

The Turning Point

I started learning about the power of our thoughts—how they shape our experiences and how we have the ability to control them. Skeptical but hopeful, I decided to give it a try.

The next time I was assigned a task and felt anxiety creeping in, I stopped myself and said:

"Anna, you are capable. You are smart. You always figure things out. Everything will be okay. You’ve got this."

I also practiced deep breathing to calm myself, which helped take the edge off. Admittedly, it wasn’t a magic fix; I only felt about 2% better at first. But I didn’t give up.

The next time I faced a similar situation, I repeated the same process. Then the next time. And the next. Slowly but surely, something shifted.

The Breakthrough

One day at work, I felt the usual wave of anxiety rising, but I paused and reminded myself that I’d be okay. To my surprise, I felt a switch inside me—a lightness I hadn’t experienced before. Suddenly, the task didn’t seem so terrifying. The fear of failure and judgment didn’t feel as overwhelming.

It hit me: I’d been carrying so much unnecessary weight because of my thoughts. It wasn’t the task itself that was the problem—it was my mindset.

What if I made a mistake? I realized nothing catastrophic would happen. I would learn from it.

What if my manager thought I was incompetent? Well, that was their opinion to hold, not mine to carry.

For the first time, I felt free. Free to do my job without the constant fear of failure.

The Power of Thought

Since that breakthrough, I’ve continued this practice. Whenever anxiety, insecurity, or fear creep in, I stop and remind myself of my capabilities. And it works. Over time, I’ve become more confident, less afraid of mistakes, and, honestly, much better at my job.

What changed wasn’t my circumstances, but the way I think.

You Can Do This Too

Your thoughts are incredibly powerful, and you have the ability to control them. It’s a skill, like anything else you’ve learned in life.

Here’s a simple exercise to try:

When you catch yourself being critical or negative toward yourself, pause. Then counter those thoughts with positive ones. For example, if you think, “I’m so bad at this,”stop and tell yourself, “I’m learning, and I’ll get better.”

It might not feel natural at first, and that’s okay. Like any new habit, it takes time and practice. The more you do it, the more your brain will adapt, and the easier it will become.

Give it a try for a week and see how it feels. Make your life as easy as you can—it’s worth it.

If you want to dive deeper into mastering your mindset, check out my guidebook, Become the Master of You.