Why “Just Think Positive” Doesn’t Actually Work (And What to Do Instead)

If you’ve ever been told to “just think positive,” let me save you some frustration — that alone isn’t going to cut it.

Your mindset matters, yes. But here’s the truth no one’s putting on the motivational posters: if your nervous system is stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, your body is basically saying, “Nope. We’re not safe enough to change right now.”

You can repeat affirmations all day long, but if your body is locked in survival mode, it’s like trying to run brand new software on an old, glitchy operating system — it just isn’t going to stick.

Why Your Body Gets the First Vote

When you’re in fight-or-flight, your brain isn’t prioritizing creativity, problem-solving, or goal-chasing. It’s prioritizing safety. And until your body feels safe, it’s going to keep pulling you back to old habits and familiar patterns — even if those patterns are the exact thing you’re trying to change.

That’s why the “just think positive” advice can feel so discouraging. It’s not that your thoughts don’t matter, it’s that they can’t work alone. You need your body and mind working together.

A 60-Second Reset to Get Back Online

Here’s one of my favorite quick resets you can do anywhere — it’s like a nervous system circuit breaker.

Place your hand on your heart.
Close your eyes if you can.
Take a slow, deep breath in for a count of 4.
Hold for a count of 4.
Exhale for a count of 6.
Repeat three times.
Notice your shoulders drop. Your jaw unclenches. Your thoughts slow down. That’s your nervous system saying, “Okay. We’re safe. Now we can actually listen.”

Why We Go Deeper in Beyond the Mountain

This 60-second tool is powerful — but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. In Beyond the Mountain, we pair mindset work with nervous system regulation so the changes you make actually last.

Because you don’t just need to think differently — you need to feel safe enough to live differently.

We start on September 8th, and spots are limited. If you’re ready to break the patterns, rewire your identity, and stop sliding back into old habits, this is your climb.

👉 Click here to learn more and join us