Home / Episodes / Learn How To Stop …

Season 3 — Episode 56

Learn How To Stop Swallowing The Sea Of Stress

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • 4:31 listen

Listen to Episode

0:00 / 4:31

Ever hear that inner voice say, “This won’t work for me,” and feel your body tense before your mind even argues back? We explore why that thought often signals a nervous system scanning for safety, not a verdict on your ability. Rather than trying to silence the storm, we share a gentler frame: you don’t have to calm the sea, you just need to stop swallowing it. That shift opens the door to micro actions that build trust, competence, and momentum without demanding perfection.

We walk through a simple, visual tool to lower the volume of self-blame and worst-case thinking: picture an old rotary phone and turn the dial down 20 percent. No muting, no fighting — just enough quiet to ask a better question: what is the smallest interpretation that keeps me effective? From that steadier place, we outline one trying action you can take today to prove to your nervous system that progress and safety can coexist. To support focus, we introduce a clear boundary line for mental loops: “I’ve answered that. If there’s new information, tell me.” It’s a compact script that respects real risks while filtering recycled fear.

Along the way, we name the deeper current that often hides beneath resistance: the fear of being blamed. By acknowledging blame as a social safety threat, we show how to move without inviting panic to steer. You’ll leave with language you can use, a micro shift you can try, and a way to notice subtle wins — steadier breath, cleaner choices, shorter ruminations — as valid data that your system is learning safety. If you need more structure, we point to our emotional first aid kit and other resources designed for moments just like this. Subscribe, share this with someone who’s stuck at “this won’t work,” and tell us: what tiny step will you try today?

The contents of this podcast are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you have a specific health concern or condition, please consult a qualified Healthcare professional for more details. Check out herguru dot uk forward slash disclaimers

Support the show

If this episode helped, please share it with someone who needs a calmer five minutes:
https://followthepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Show the love- Love page: https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

This podcast is part of HerGuru Hypnotherapy and Coaching™ and grounded in the ABGW Method®.

Calm first. Reality first. Then change.™

Want to give feedback or suggest a future episode topic?
https://podcastfeedback.com/workstressanxiety

Join the HerGuru WhatsApp Channel for ongoing prompts, nervous-system reminders, podcast updates, and the occasional reality check the wellbeing industry forgot to include:
https://go.workstressanxiety.com/whatsappinvite

And if the podcast has helped you, leaving a review genuinely helps other overwhelmed humans find it without having to survive another “10x your mindset” podcast first:
https://lovethepodcast.com/workstressanxiety

Connect with Cheryl Paris:
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylparis/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/abgwblog

Disclaimer:
https://herguru.uk/disclaimers/

© Cheryl Paris.

SPEAKER_01: Hi, and welcome back to Amazing Brilliant Gorgeous Wonderful.

SPEAKER_01: This is episode three in this mini series, and today's thought: this won't work for me.

SPEAKER_01: Now, when you say this won't work, in my experience, it usually means I can't afford the fallout.

Naming The “This Won’t Work” Thought

SPEAKER_01: And I understand, you know, it's it's not negativity, it's that your nervous system is in a state where it's scanning for safety.

Safety, Cost, And The Nervous System

SPEAKER_01: So we're not trying to change things here or change how our nervous system is working.

Micro Shifts Over Massive Change

SPEAKER_01: We're looking at uh whether we can start looking at different options.

SPEAKER_01: I mean, think of it like a choppy bit of water, you're not calming the sea, what you're doing is you'll stop swallowing it.

The Rotary Phone Volume Dial Metaphor

SPEAKER_01: Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: So a micro shift might be to notice the internal thoughts and feelings that come up.

SPEAKER_01: Maybe it's a self-blaming voice.

SPEAKER_01: Um, and like what I would want you to do is imagine, you know, remember those old-fashioned telephones where you had to turn the dial, put your finger in and turn the dial.

SPEAKER_00: I want you to imagine one of those.

SPEAKER_01: And what I want you to do is imagine just turning down the sound a little bit, maybe 20%, not muting it, just turning it down, and then asking what's the smallest interpretation that keeps me affected.

One Trying Action And Boundaries

SPEAKER_00: One trying action today.

SPEAKER_01: Don't explain yourself, over explain it to yourself.

SPEAKER_01: If needed, use the line.

SPEAKER_01: I've answered that.

SPEAKER_00: If there's new information, tell me.

SPEAKER_01: Okay, that's it for today.

SPEAKER_01: In the next episode, we'll name the fear underneath everything.

SPEAKER_01: What if I get blamed?

SPEAKER_01: Now, if something in today's episode landed with you, even quietly, that matters, and you don't need to do anything dramatic with it.

Gentle Reflection And Resources

SPEAKER_01: Just want you to notice it, just notice what you can notice.

SPEAKER_01: And if you feel like any extra support, remember that on the website there's the emotional first day kit as well as other resources on the results page.

SPEAKER_01: It's there for moments exactly like this where you need you know, where you need to take a pause.

SPEAKER_01: Okay, so as you go about your business today, I want you to remember every step you take, no matter how small, is a step towards a brighter, more balanced future.

SPEAKER_01: So you can trust in your journey and remember progress is progress no matter the pace.

Encouragement And Closing

SPEAKER_01: Bye for now.