Episode 20

Explore The Power of your Mind [Ep 20]

Today, we're diving into the incredible power of your own mind and how it can be a game-changer in managing anxiety. As high achievers, we often feel the weight of perfectionism, which can ramp up our stress levels. But what if I told you that the very source of our anxiety can also help us find calm? This episode is all about harnessing that mental power through mindfulness practices, showing you how to intentionally steer your thoughts to create a sense of control, even when things get chaotic. We’ll guide you through a simple mindfulness exercise that you can try daily for the next 30 days, helping you recognise your mind's potential to alleviate anxiety and inviting you to reflect on the shifts you notice along the way. Let's get started on this journey to a calmer, more centred you.

  1. FREE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠High-functioning Anxiety Survival Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  2. Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠High-functioning Anxiety Blueprint
  3. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask me your anxiety-related questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a future episode.
  4. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 Reset & Reclaim Hypnotherapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Program. A 4-week journey to help you gently break down the Eldest Daughter conditioning that’s been running your life, and reclaim your voice, your needs, and your sense of self.
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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DISCLAIMER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: All content here is for informational purposes only. This content does not replace the professional judgment of your own mental health provider. Please consult a licensed mental health professional for all individual questions and issues.

Transcript
Speaker A:

You're listening to the Peace with Anxiety podcast.

Speaker A:

I am your host, Irene Evangelo, anxiety counselor and clinical hypnotherapist.

Speaker A:

I'll be coming to you every week to share actionable tips, simple strategies and useful resources to help you break free from high function anxiety.

Speaker A:

We'll be covering how to recognize and understand your anxiety, strategies to change your thoughts and feelings, and ways to implement long lasting change.

Speaker A:

If you are trying to overcome people pleasing behaviors, navigate anxiety, living in self doubt or something else keeping you stuck, then you are in the right place.

Speaker A:

I know that you are ready to get to the next level of your life feeling free, calm, confident and in control.

Speaker A:

So let's get started.

Speaker B:

Hello and welcome everyone to another episode of the Peace with Anxiety Simple Anxiety Tips for High Achievers.

Speaker B:

I am your host, Irene Evangelo, and today we are going to explore the incredible power of your own mind.

Speaker B:

And as high achievers, we often find ourselves overwhelmed by the constant drive for perfection and success leading to heightened anxiety and stress.

Speaker B:

But what if I told you that your mind, the very source of your stress, can also be your greatest tool in reducing and overcoming anxiety?

Speaker B:

Because our minds are immensely powerful, they can conjure up vivid images, recall detailed memories, and even alter our perception of reality.

Speaker B:

So by understanding this power through mindfulness, we can learn to intentionally direct our thoughts and create a sense of calm and control, even in the midst of chaos.

Speaker B:

So today we are going to engage in a simple mindfulness practice that would help you recognize and play with the power of your mind and ultimately showing you how to gently guide it in ways that can alleviate anxiety.

Speaker B:

Now, as with any tool that we have discussed here, the key is consistency.

Speaker B:

So here's a little challenge for you.

Speaker B:

I want you to try and listen to this mindful practice every day for the next 30 days.

Speaker B:

So just press play every single day for the next 30 days and try this exercise.

Speaker B:

And then I want you to come back to this podcast, give me a review and let me know exactly what shifts in your perception have you noticed.

Speaker B:

So, like we mentioned before, the mind is a powerful tool.

Speaker B:

And in mindfulness practice, we learn to train and work with this tool in an intentional, focused way.

Speaker B:

And this practice lets you play with the power of your mind, showing you how to gently alter its attention.

Speaker B:

So you will also witness the mind's auditory and visual thinking patterns.

Speaker B:

We will also bring some mindfulness and curiosity to this practice and try not to take yourselves too seriously.

Speaker B:

So for this practice, you will need to gently close your eyes, take a moment to notice how the body is resting.

Speaker B:

Keep the spine as straight as possible and allow the muscles to relax.

Speaker B:

With your eyes closed, try to bring to mind the room or space in which you are sitting.

Speaker B:

Can you picture where in the room your body is resting?

Speaker B:

Try to visualize the room in your mind.

Speaker B:

Picture the floor, the walls, the windows and any doors.

Speaker B:

See what else you can bring up to piece together the space in your mind.

Speaker B:

And now letting go of the room, picture yourself somewhere peaceful.

Speaker B:

It may be a beach, a forest, or wherever your happy place is.

Speaker B:

In the same way, picture the space around you and try to bring up as many details as possible.

Speaker B:

And now letting go of the visualization, bring to mind a song or a tune you know very well.

Speaker B:

Try to hear the words or melody in your head.

Speaker B:

Now use the mind to change the experience of hearing the song.

Speaker B:

Try to turn the volume down, making the song quiet in your head, And then turn the volume up a bit.

Speaker B:

Investigate what it is like to slow the song down or speed it up.

Speaker B:

Pause for a moment at the end of this practice to recognize the power of your own mind.

Speaker B:

With a very small amount of effort, you can make up visualizations, play music, and tell the experience in any way you choose.

Speaker B:

So whenever you feel overwhelmed or anxious, remember that you have this incredible tool at your disposal.

Speaker B:

And by practicing mindfulness, you can learn to intentionally direct your thoughts and create a sense of calm and control in your life.

Speaker B:

So thank you for joining me today in this mindfulness exercise and I really hope you found it both enlightening and empowering.

Speaker B:

So I will leave you with this the mind is a powerful tool that, when trained and worked with intentionally, can bring about profound changes in how we experience the world around us.

Speaker B:

And if you enjoyed this practice, make sure to subscribe and share this podcast with anyone who might benefit from it.

Speaker B:

So stay tuned for more episodes where we explore simple yet effective techniques to overcome anxiety naturally.

Speaker B:

Until next time, take care and be kind with yourselves.

Speaker A:

Thank you for listening to the Peace With Anxiety podcast.

Speaker A:

If you found any value in today, I would really appreciate if you would leave me a review and share this episode on your Instagram story tagging me at Irene the Anxiety Therapist.

Speaker A:

Also, make sure you subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss an episode.

Speaker A:

All the links are found below in the Show Notes.

Speaker A:

Thank you for listening and I look forward to seeing you the next episode.

About the Podcast

Show artwork for PEACE with Anxiety: Healing High functioning Anxiety in Eldest Daughters
PEACE with Anxiety: Healing High functioning Anxiety in Eldest Daughters

About your host

Profile picture for Irene Evangelou

Irene Evangelou

1. I'm a Hypnotherapist, counsellor, baby-mum, podcast host, recovering perfectionist, big fan of cold coffee, metal music, deep conversations, and anything with chocolate ☕️🍫

2. I grew up in Greece and moved to Australia at 18 chasing a life that felt more like me.

3. For years I lived with high-functioning anxiety, hyper-responsibility, hypervigilance, overthinking and people-pleasing. Those patterns shaped me, they’re still part of my story, but now they guide me rather than control me.

4. There was always a duality in me: the girl who wanted to be kind and helpful, and the woman who wanted to succeed and explore her potential.

5. I studied psychology because I’m endlessly curious about why people do what they do, then continued my post-grad in counselling and hypnotherapy after my own therapy changed everything for me.

6. The diagnostic model doesn’t fully fit how I understand anxiety or self-worth; I see anxious patterns as protective strategies learned in childhood, not labels that define a person. That perspective shapes how I work.

7. I specialised in forensic psychology/counselling out of a passion for social and criminal justice, and I’ve worked in community settings because helping people is my core value.

8. I’ve been in therapy myself, it taught me how to slow down, listen in, and feel safe being myself. That life-changing experience is why I retrained as a therapist.

9. My mental health was a real challenge in my teens and twenties; I manage it now through ongoing therapy, lifestyle choices, and lots of self-awareness.

10. I truly want to help women break out of the cycles they learned in childhood; anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, people-pleasing, so they can discover who they truly are and feel calm, confident, and safe in their own presence.

You might know me from the Peace with Anxiety podcast or my short, no-fluff mini-courses.

I’m also creating new ways to support you beyond 1:1 therapy, if you want updates, sign up to my newsletter in the link in bio.

Thanks for being here 🫶🏻

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