As we grow up, we create a set of programs that our mind thinks will keep us safe.

This results in beliefs such as:

“Being quiet is safer than speaking up”

“I must be perfect in order to be lovable”

“If I work harder, I will be happier”

“Pleasing others pleases me”

“In order to be a good employee, I must always put work first”

“Emotions are weakness – never show weakness”

Your mind desperately wants to keep you safe, so it constantly tries to "motivate" you to keep running these old programs from your childhood. Your mind may tell you that you are not working hard enough, that you are useless or lazy, that you must keep quiet so as not to rock the boat, or that you need to apologize to everyone around you just for existing in their space!

It will tell you to keep parts of yourself hidden because people will not like you if you reveal them. It will keep you on edge trying to anticipate everyone's needs, hide your feelings, be helpful, fit in, act a certain way, look a certain way, and live a certain way (because what will everyone else think?).

And worst of all, it will tell you that you are not good enough, smart enough, good-looking enough, ________ enough to achieve your dreams or live your dream life.