The Time I Stopped Myself From Overthinking

Hello Script-Breakers,

 I'm going to share with you something I experienced recently, because it reminded me that even when you're focusing on mindset shifts and building your dream lifestyle (hello, entrepreneur life!), the old panic and crushing anxiety still pays a visit.

It was a Sunday morning and my mind was less of a peaceful, gently swaying hammock and more like a cat video compilation set to heavy metal. 

I could feel the thoughts tripping over themselves in my mind almost like a physical thing and my whole system just locked up like a full on freeze frame, where my shoulders practically kissed my ears, making my neck disappear. 

I swear I looked like a worried turtle and every attempt to self-soothe felt pointless; even my go-to distractions weren’t working. 

Trying to meditate? Forget it!

A scroll through Insta? No dice. 

Listening to my fave playlist on YouTube? Not even a flicker of relief.

 I was drowning in this emotional rip tide of self-doubt and fear based thoughts, feeling myself tossed around viciously against the rolling waves like wood from a wrecked ship.

One minute I was trying to catch my breath, the next a fear- tsunami rose over my head, only to crash down with truly chilling power, triggering even more fear-based thoughts like an avalanche of toxic ideas in its wake.

 It was enough to make a girl just want to curl up with a big glass of wine and call it a day. 

I practically collapsed onto my bed in a huff. 

My heart? 

It was going full jack rabbit, thumping so fast, loud, and painfully- way too dramatic for a Sunday morning. 

My breaths were coming in short, tight little gasps.

 My body was feeling so uncomfortable, like a balloon seconds from bursting because the pressure inside was building up too quickly and intensely.

Taking a shaky breath, I closed my eyes. 

And then, a little glimmer of light—like finding the perfect spot of sun for the afternoon nap I deserved. 

I remembered what I had seen Sadhguru talk about on his YouTube channel just that morning.

 Was this the universe sending me an entrepreneurial hack for my nervous system? I decided to try it.

No big production, no fancy incantations—just me, my slightly messy room (because, real life, right?), and the urgent need to stop my brain from constantly refreshing the page of panic.

What's the worst that could happen? I'd still be anxious, but at least I could say I tried the spiritual guru thing.

Phase 1: The Anchor Drop

My first move was physical.

I settled onto the duvet and just let my eyes wander around the room.

 I took it all in: the chair piled with all my knick-knacks, like my laptop notebook and a few pens (it's called a work pile, thank you), my fabulous shoe rack filled with the only things that truly understand me, the wardrobe, and finally my old chest of drawers. 

This is my little haven. My personal oasis. 

This little routine always helped me hit the pause button and remind myself: Ashlee, darling, you are here. You are safe. 

It’s a conscious effort to override the mental narrative that screamed: "You're in danger!" by confirming to my nervous system: "I am home. I am here. I am safe."

 The wild, wild wasteland was only between my ears, not in my cozy, familiar and slightly chaotic room. 

My breathing had slowed abit as my eyes roamed the room, and while it was still a little fast, we were pretty much out of the danger zone. 

I took a few deep, intentional breaths, filling my lungs like they're the sails of a yacht headed for open waters. 

By the fourth slow exhale, I reclined completely, closing my eyes, allowing my body to sink even deeper into the mattress.

It was time for a mental check-in with my body. 

As I scanned my body through my mind, I noticed that it felt heavy, and a little frantic, slowly melting just that bit more into the mattress. 

I placed my hands on my stomach—a little comfort, a little grounding—and just breathed. 

No special rhythm, no controlling the flow. 

Just letting my body do its thing. 

Under the reassuring weight of my hands, 

I felt myself rising and falling, a gentle, hypnotic motion. 

I am safe now.

No appointments, no deadlines, no income drama for the next few minutes.

 This was my quiet, grounding time. 

I noticed my breath felt a little sticky on the exhale, like old lip gloss, and my thoughts tried to target it—Don't mess up the breathing!

 But I knew better and left it alone. 

I have to be patient. I knew this mental maelstrom would quiet down if I just rode the wave.

So I continued to mentally scan my body for sensations. 

A little tension knot in my forehead (probably from trying to solve the universe's problems while simultaneously worrying about my blog growth and book sales). 

Some parts however, felt totally neutral.

 I just kept breathing, focusing on the feeling of my body rising and falling—the undeniable proof that I'm alive and okay.

Finally, after who knows how long, I felt it—that warm, heavy sag into the mattress, my limbs getting cozy and warm, my breaths deepening.

 It’s the sweet kiss of calm. 

Which meant it was time for the deeper dive: a full body scan.

From my forehead to my fabulous little toes, I took stock of everything.

 How does my neck feel? What about my hips? What’s that uncomfortable feeling in my tummy?

 I simply noticed the sensation—good, not so good, or nothing at all—and consciously invited that area to relax before moving on. 

I repeated the scan three more times. 

This exercise is an emotional detox that left me feeling grounded, present, and ready for the main event.

Phase 2: The Identity Reset

This was the part that hit me the deepest, and this was the mindset shift that's essential for anyone who pours their soul into their work (or dating life).

In that state of calm,I finally settled down and realized I had to separate the story from the self. 

I had to remind myself that my worth was not my products, and my fear was not my identity.

So, just like Sadhguru suggests in his video, I started asking myself simple, powerful questions: