How to Break Free from Your Own BS
Let’s start with a fact: your brain is running on autopilot more than you think.
Not in the cool “self-driving car” kind of way—more like a stubborn old GPS that keeps rerouting you to the same dead-end, even though you swear you’re trying to get somewhere new.
Most people feel stuck at some point. Maybe it’s your career, your relationships, or your own thoughts that won’t let you rest. You know something needs to change, but you don’t know what or how to fix it.
That’s where metacognition comes in.
It’s a fancy word for something ridiculously powerful: thinking about how you think.
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Every person has an internal narrator—like the voiceover in a dramatic movie trailer, except yours might not be doing you any favors. Over time, that voice starts crafting a storyline you believe to be true:
“I’m just not good at leadership.”
“I always mess things up.”
“Success is for people who had more support than I did.”
Sound familiar? These thoughts aren’t facts. They’re well-rehearsed scripts your brain keeps playing on repeat. You didn’t even write most of them—society, your childhood, and past experiences did. And yet, they shape how you see yourself, your potential, and what you think you’re capable of.
Now, imagine grabbing a red pen, scribbling all over that script, and writing yourself a new story.
Recognizing Your Cognitive Gatekeepers
Every time you try to step outside your comfort zone, there’s a mental security guard inside your brain with a clipboard, shaking its head like,
"Ooooh, sorry, nope. You’re not on the list."
That voice isn’t you—it’s just your brain trying to keep things familiar. And you can thank neuroplasticity (your brain’s ability to change) for the fact that you don’t have to keep listening to it.
Take a second and ask yourself:
→ What thoughts immediately pop up when I consider doing something unfamiliar?
→ Do I shut down my own ideas before giving them a chance?
→ Am I operating from curiosity… or fear?
Most of the time, the real barrier isn’t external—it’s the invisible gate in your mind.
Stepping Beyond the Gate
Here’s the kicker: once you spot the patterns, you gain the power to question them—are they guiding you forward, or just keeping you stuck in the same loop? The moment you recognize them, you get to decide whether they’re worth holding onto or if it’s time to rewrite the script.
Your brain isn’t some rigid, unchangeable mess—it’s more like Play-Doh. (Okay, really stubborn Play-Doh, but still moldable.) The trick is getting intentional about rewiring your thoughts.
Awareness → Start catching those limiting thoughts in real time.
Intention → Challenge those outdated beliefs and reframe them.
Action → Do something that proves your new mindset is real.
Even small shifts count. The first time you catch a self-sabotaging thought and say, “Hold up—that’s just a habit, not a fact,” you’re already breaking the cycle.
A Challenge for You
For the next 24 hours, notice when your mind fills in the blanks.
Ever assume someone’s mad at you because they took too long to reply? Ever catch yourself predicting failure before you’ve even tried? That’s your brain running on old scripts, filling in gaps with assumptions instead of facts.
When this happens, pause and ask:
"What do I actually know for sure?"
"What part of this is my brain making up based on past experiences?"
"If I looked at this from an outside perspective, would the story change?"
The challenge isn’t to force a different thought—it’s to recognize that your first thought isn’t always the full truth. Once you see it, you have a choice: keep the story, or rewrite it.