Listener Favorite: Controlling Thoughts vs Believing Thoughts (The Key to Mental Freedom)

Listener Favorite: Controlling Thoughts vs Believing Thoughts (The Key to Mental Freedom)

This is one of my most downloaded and most listened-to podcast episodes—and for good reason. I’m re-airing it this week because this is one of those core skills in mental and emotional freedom that almost everyone needs repeated exposure to. It’s simple in concept, but incredibly powerful in practice—and it’s also one that most of us were never really taught. Have you ever been told to “just stop thinking about it”… and immediately found that you couldn’t? In this episode, we unpack why that happens—and why trying to control your thoughts often makes them stronger, not quieter. We also dive into how your brain is actually designed to think constantly, what’s happening in the default mode network when your mind runs on autopilot, and how to work with your thoughts instead of against them. Most importantly, you’ll learn the difference between having a thought and believing a thought—and why that distinction is where real mental freedom begins. You’ll walk away with simple, practical tools for working with persistent or repetitive thoughts (instead of getting stuck in them), including a framework for how to relate to your mind in a much lighter, more useful way. If you’ve already heard this episode before, I really encourage you to listen again. These are the kinds of ideas that tend to land differently depending on what season you’re in—and this one is absolutely worth revisiting. Resources Free course: How To Get Unstuck at beckygarnercoaching.com/stuck [https://www.beckygarnercoaching.com/stuck/]

Ep. 42 | Creating A Future You Can't See Yet

In this episode, I share a deeply personal story about chronic back pain, a breaking point that brought me to tears, and the moment everything began to shift. After months of pain and frustration, I had an unexpected thought during prayerful meditation:  “There’s dancing in your future.” At the time, it made no logical sense. I could barely move without pain. But that single thought became a turning point—one that changed how I focused my mind, how I showed up, and ultimately, what I started creating in my life. This episode isn’t just about healing. It’s about understanding how your brain works—and how to use it on purpose to create your future you can't see yet. In this episode, you’ll learn: *  How one powerful thought can begin to shift your future  *  How to recognize thoughts that actually move you forward (vs. ones that don’t stick)  *  A simple way to connect, listen, and access more powerful guiding thoughts  *  How to start intentionally creating a future that feels aligned, hopeful, and possible * How your brain naturally creates more of what you focus on  *  The difference between letting your brain run vs. directing it on purpose   Your brain is always moving toward something.   The question is—are you choosing the direction?

Ep. 41 | How to Stop Negative Self-Talk: Change the Questions You Ask

Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “What’s wrong with me?” or “Why can’t I get it together?” Those questions might seem harmless—but they’re not. Your brain is always working to answer the questions you give it. And if you’re asking disempowering questions, you’re going to get disempowering answers. In this episode, I’m breaking down how the questions you ask yourself every day are shaping how you feel, what you believe, and what you do. We’ll talk about: *  The most common negative questions people ask themselves  *  Why those questions keep you stuck in shame and frustration  *  How to recognize when a question isn’t actually helping you  * How empowering questions generate momentum, solutions, and powerful self-talk  * Simple, practical ways to shift to more empowering questions  I’ll also share real examples from my own life—like the question that used to run on repeat in my brain (“What’s wrong with me?”) and what I replaced it with instead. This is a powerful shift that you can start using today. It can completely change the way you think and feel. If you’ve been stuck in negative self-talk, this episode will show you a simple way out. Free Resource If you're feeling stuck and ready for real change, grab my free course: Get Unstuck  [https://www.beckygarnercoaching.com/stuck/] This short course goes straight to the heart of what keeps people stuck and gives you practical tools to start shifting your mindset right away. Pro Tip: Start at minute 3 and watch at 1.5 speed.  Read to Go Deeper? If you’re done spinning in the same thoughts and you want more confidence, joy, and freedom in your life, this is where we do that work. Book your free chat Here. [https://www.beckygarnercoaching.com/work-with-me/] Loved This Episode? * Follow the show * Leave a review * Share it with someone you know

Ep. 40 | Gratitude That Rewires Your Brain (and Changes How You Feel Every Day)

What if gratitude isn’t just something you're supposed to practice… but a way you live? In this episode, we’re going deeper than surface-level gratitude. Not just writing a list or saying “I’m thankful”—but learning how to actually feel gratitude in your body and use it to create real change. If you’re someone who is hard on yourself, constantly noticing what’s not enough, or feeling like your brain is always scanning for what’s wrong… this episode will show you a different way. You’ll learn how gratitude retrains your brain, increases emotional resilience, and helps you shift from pressure and self-criticism into more confidence, peace, and freedom. We’ll also talk about the simple neuroscience behind why felt gratitude is so powerful—and how just a few seconds a day can start to rewire your patterns. And of course, I’ll give you practical ways to start using this immediately in your own life. You’ll learn: *  Why most gratitude practices don’t actually work (and what to do instead)  *  The difference between thinking gratitude and feeling gratitude  *  How gratitude retrains your brain to focus on what’s working  *  The simple neuroscience behind felt emotions *  What your amygdala and hippocampus do—and why they matter for change  *  3 simple gratitude practices you can start today  If this episode resonates, share it with someone who could use a little more peace and perspective—and don’t forget to leave a review so more women can find it 🤍 Free Resource If you're feeling stuck and ready for real change, grab my free course: Get Unstuck  [https://www.beckygarnercoaching.com/stuck/] This short course goes straight to the heart of what keeps people stuck and gives you practical tools to start shifting your mindset right away. Pro Tip: Start at minute 3 and watch at 1.5 speed.  Read to Go Deeper? If you’re tired of being stuck in your own head and ready to finally feel free, come work with me. This is the work I do with clients every day. Book a free consult Here. [https://beckygarnercoaching.as.me/] Loved This Episode? * Follow the show * Leave a review * Share it with someone you know

Ep. 39 | The Hidden Energy Leaks Draining Your Day

Most of us assume energy runs out because we’re doing too much. We think of energy like a battery that slowly drains from 100% to 0% as the day goes on. But what if that’s not actually what’s happening? What if certain thoughts are like background apps running all day, quietly draining your charge without you noticing? In this episode, we’re talking about energy leaks—the hidden thoughts that quietly drain your energy all day long.  Thoughts like “I don’t want to,” “I’m tired,” and “I can’t” may seem harmless or factual, but they create resistance, heaviness, and constant low-level drain. They leave you feeling like you’re running on 10% by evening—even if your day wasn’t objectively that intense. In this episode, I’ll show you how these mental energy leaks show up in real life, why your brain defaults to them, and how to start plugging them so you can actually create more energy as you go through your day. You’ll learn: *  The “energy battery” model most people use—and why it’s incomplete  *  What an “energy leak” actually is in your thinking  *  How thoughts like “I don’t want to,” “I’m tired,” and “I can’t” quietly drain your energy  *  Why your brain is wired to default to these draining patterns  *  How resistance creates exhaustion even when nothing physically changes  *  Simple ways to start plugging energy leaks in real time  *  How to shift from draining thoughts to energy-building thoughts on purpose  If you’ve been ending your days exhausted and wondering why you’re so tired, this episode will help you see what’s really going on—and what to do differently starting today. Free Resource If you're feeling stuck and ready for real change, grab my free course: Get Unstuck  [https://www.beckygarnercoaching.com/stuck/] This short course goes straight to the heart of what keeps people stuck and gives you practical tools to start shifting your mindset right away. Pro Tip: Start at minute 3 and watch at 1.5 speed.  Read to Go Deeper? If you’re tired of being stuck in your own head and ready to finally feel free, come work with me. This is the work I do with clients every day. Book a free consult Here. [https://beckygarnercoaching.as.me/] Loved This Episode? * Follow the show * Leave a review * Share it with someone you know