Ever set a goal and feel the abort signal before you even start? We dig into the quiet moment where self-doubt takes the wheel, name it anticipatory shutdown, and show how your nervous system isn’t sabotaging you—it’s trying to protect you. When your baseline is busyness, overthinking, and constant pressure, calm can feel suspicious. That’s homeostasis at work, pulling you back to what’s familiar even when it isn’t healthy.

We unpack why the brain’s threat bias recycles old evidence—failed plans, awkward first tries—and edits the past into a story that blocks change. Instead of arguing with anxiety, we build a fuller narrative through targeted journal prompts that restore missing details like growth, support, and small wins. From there, we switch from willpower to felt safety: two-minute stillness practices, naming the urge to quit, and staying one breath longer. Those gentle reps teach your body that new habits are safe, activating the prefrontal cortex and giving you a real choice instead of a knee-jerk spiral.

You’ll hear relatable examples from health goals to career pivots, plus practical language that keeps momentum without identity whiplash: I’m noticing, I’m experimenting, I’m curious. Resistance becomes information, not a verdict. The result is a humane path to change that doesn’t demand you bulldoze your nervous system. Breathe, unclench, and take the tiniest honest step—because once your body learns the new baseline, calm stops feeling dangerous and starts feeling like home.

If you'd like the Anxiety Story Journal Prompts, you can download them here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wrSMfW3Kr9nENV252JZP83cHDGpSqO0b/view?usp=sharing

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Thanks for listening!

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