August/September 2025 Aspire Magazine FULL Issue | Page 32

Something happens once or only a few times, but you apply it indiscriminately across the board. One person rejects you so you assume everyone will reject you. One setback becomes“ Nothing ever works out.”

➡ Shift: Zoom in. Speak only to what’ s actually happening, not what your fear is projecting.

Fixating on something you don’ t want to the point it seems inevitable. Why bother anymore? You feel stuck and tell yourself it will never get better.

➡ Shift: Ask:“ What’ s one small thing I can do to support myself right now?” Small shifts create momentum.

Once you’ ve labeled someone or something, you stop seeing them for who or what they are. Your mind gets stuck in a loop of confirmation bias, seeking verifying information, while filtering out anything that says otherwise. We apply that to our self image, too. You call yourself names: lazy, broken, dramatic. Harsh labels reinforce shame.

➡ Shift: Try:“ What’ s the most generous interpretation of this moment?”

Black and white thinking is devoid of nuance, context, or discernment, discrediting anything that doesn’ t fit an either / or scenario. If it’ s not perfect, it’ s a failure. If you’ re not calm, you’ re a mess.

➡ Shift: Find the in-between. Try:“ Maybe it’ s both. Maybe I’ m struggling and making progress.”