The Stories We Tell Ourselves (And How They Hold Us Back)

A client recently said to me:

“Meeting with my SVP is going to be harder than meeting with my boss.”

And my response was simple: How do you know?

The truth is, they didn’t. It hadn’t happened yet. But their brain had already written the script: This will be harder. This will be scarier. This will be too much.

This is what happens when overthinking at work takes over. We tell ourselves stories before the situation even unfolds.

The problem isn’t the meeting, or the project, or the conversation.

The problem is the story we’re carrying into it.

Why We Tell Ourselves Stories at Work

Our brains are wired to predict and protect us.

When faced with uncertainty, we assume the worst. It feels safer to be prepared for “hard” than to admit we don’t know.

But those assumptions quickly become roadblocks:

• We label conversations as “difficult” before they begin.

• We decide projects will “fail” before we’ve started.

• We convince ourselves we’re “not ready” for opportunities.

This cycle of assumptions leads to stress, self-doubt, and stalled progress. It’s one of the biggest reasons high-achieving professionals struggle with confidence.

Why Naming the Story Matters

When we pause and recognize, “This is just a story I’m telling myself,” everything shifts.

That awareness gives you space to:

• Ask: What evidence do I really have?

• Flip the script: What if the opposite were true?

• Choose: What story do I actually want to bring into this moment?

This is the first step in building confidence at work—learning to separate facts from the fears and predictions our mind creates.

The Coaching Work Behind the Scenes

This is exactly what I do with my clients.

I help them say the things out loud—the assumptions, the fears, the endless “what-ifs.” Because when those stories stay inside, they grow louder. They spiral into overthinking that keeps them stuck.

But once you bring them into the open, you can see them for what they are: thoughts, not facts.

And thoughts can be shifted.

That’s where mindset coaching comes in.

That’s where confidence begins to grow.

That’s where action becomes possible.

Moving Forward With Confidence

Imagine how much lighter it feels to walk into a meeting without already carrying the story that it’s going to be “hard.”

Imagine approaching a conversation without assuming rejection is guaranteed.

Imagine stepping into a new opportunity without already writing the ending.

This is what happens when you stop overthinking and start naming the stories:

You free yourself to show up fully present, curious, and ready.

Your Next Step

👉 Here’s my challenge to you:

What’s one story you’ve been telling yourself lately that might not actually be true?

Notice it. Name it. And ask yourself “Do I know this to be absolutely true?”

And then…choose a new one.

Because most of the time, it’s not the meeting or the project that weighs you down.

It’s the story you’ve been carrying.

I would love to help you start seeing your stories and writing new ones. Grab your free coaching session and let’s do it!