MJP-002: Overcoming Stress and Fear with Mindset and Faith

Lisa

Welcome back to the Mind Jedi Podcast! I’m Lisa, here with my amazing co-host, Denice, and we’re thrilled to have you joining us today.

Denice

That’s right, Lisa! Each episode, we explore powerful ways to train your mind, build resilience, and live with intention—all while keeping it relatable and fun.

Lisa

Today, we’re diving into the idea that “All is Well.” It’s a simple phrase, but when you really embrace it, it can shift your whole perspective, no matter what life throws your way.

Denice

And as always, we’re sharing personal stories and insights to help you see things differently and find your inner calm—even when the odds aren’t exactly in your favor.

Denice

So, buckle up Mind Jedi's, and let’s jump right in to today's "15 Minutes to Mental Fitness"!

Lisa

Alright, let me tell you about this wild day I had. So, I had just finished this super long day—hours in traffic, dropping off food to my parents, spending quality time with them—and I was literally ready to collapse on my couch. But... of course, life had other plans. My car battery dies.

Denice

Nooo!

Lisa

Oh yeah, it was one of those moments. I was sitting there in this eerily quiet parking lot, exhausted, just staring at the steering wheel like, "Why me? Why now?" My mind went straight into panic mode. You know, all the fears and worst-case scenarios just flooding in.

Denice

Oh, I’ve been there. I think we all have, where it just feels like everything is piling on you at once.

Lisa

Exactly. But then—and this is the key—I did something that surprised even me. I took this deep breath, and I just said, "All is well."

Denice

Wait, that's all you did?

Lisa

Yeah, literally. "All is well." Three little words. And as cheesy as it sounds, something shifted. Like, I realized... the battery was still dead—nothing had actually changed—but I wasn’t spiraling anymore. Suddenly, I was calm enough to start thinking of solutions. Roadside assistance, calling my brother, staying at my parents’ place. Options I couldn’t see before just started popping up.

Denice

I love that. It’s like pressing pause on the chaos, isn’t it?

Lisa

Totally. And I think that’s the real power of grounding yourself. It’s not about magically fixing everything. It’s about creating enough mental space to take the next step, instead of being paralyzed by fear or frustration.

Denice

Yeah, when I feel overwhelmed, my first go-to is to just stop and breathe. And honestly, it sounds basic—but there’s something about slowing my breathing that clears the fog, you know?

Lisa

Absolutely. It’s like re-centering yourself in that moment. And that’s what the "all is well" mindset is really about. Not pretending everything’s perfect, but reminding yourself that you’re capable of handling whatever comes your way. That’s faith, right?

Denice

Right. And faith can be so different for everyone. Like, for some people, it’s spiritual—it’s trusting in God or a higher power—but for others, it’s just believing in their own strength. Like, "I’ve faced hard stuff before, I can do it again."

Lisa

Exactly. And it’s kind of freeing, isn’t it? To trust that, even if the worst happens, you’ll figure it out.

Denice

Oh, totally. It’s like shifting your focus from “What if everything goes wrong?” to “Well, even if it does, I’ll still be okay.”

Lisa

And that’s the thing about faith—it rewires how you respond to stress. It helps you see challenges differently, as problems to solve instead of catastrophes.

Denice

Mmhmm. It’s really a mindset shift. And it’s amazing how just that little bit of calm can make all the difference when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Denice

Okay, building on that idea of shifting perspectives, here’s a thought: What if your mind was a garden? Stay with me—it'll all tie together, I promise.

Lisa

Ooh, I’m intrigued already. Go on.

Denice

Alright, imagine this: the soil in your garden is like your self-love and sense of worth. It’s the foundation, right? If the soil is unhealthy, nothing grows well. But if it’s rich and nourishing, everything thrives. The catch is, though, like a real garden, your mind doesn’t just grow flowers—it grows weeds too. And those weeds, let’s be honest, are all the beliefs rooted in fear, doubt, insecurity, you name it.

Lisa

That’s such a cool way to look at it. And I guess the weeds, like negative self-talk, don’t just disappear on their own, huh?

Denice

Exactly. You have to actively pull them out, and not just the tops—you’ve gotta get to the root. But here’s the good news: your brain’s wired to help you with this. Neuroplasticity, baby!

Lisa

Wait, the brain can rewire itself? That’s kinda awesome. Tell me more.

Denice

Oh, totally. Your brain’s been doing this your whole life. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to create new pathways—it’s what allows us to replace old thought patterns with better ones. So, if your garden’s got weeds of self-doubt, you can literally re-train your brain to grow flowers of confidence instead. It takes work, but it’s possible.

Lisa

Okay, so where do we even start? Like, how do you go from identifying a weed to planting flowers?

Denice

Great question. First, you look at the beliefs that are holding you back. Like, "What’s stopping me from thriving?" Then, you consciously replace them with beliefs that support you. For me, it’s about flipping a “I’m not good enough” thought into “I am capable and worthy.” It’s not instant, but the repetition makes those new beliefs stronger.

Lisa

Mmhmm. And I’m guessing the self-love part is like... fertilizer for your garden?

Denice

Exactly. Gratitude and mindful practices are like watering that garden. The more you nurture your sense of worth, the easier it is to sustain those empowering beliefs. So, it’s not just about getting rid of the weeds—it’s tending to the soil, planting the right seeds, and making sure they have what they need to grow.

Lisa

Wow, I really love this metaphor. It’s such a practical way to think about building confidence and resilience. Like, instead of "fixing yourself," it’s about just giving yourself the right care.

Denice

Exactly. And the more consciously you garden your mind, the more it reflects the life you wanna live. But like any garden, it takes regular tending—pulling out weeds, nurturing the soil, and choosing what to plant next.

Lisa

Okay, let’s pause for a second. What you’re saying is that no matter how cluttered or overgrown the garden is right now, you can still clean it up and make something beautiful?

Denice

Absolutely. It’ll take effort and consistency, but neuroplasticity means you’re never stuck with the old patterns. You can reshape that space into something that truly serves you.

Lisa

You know, thinking about that mental garden idea—you’re right, reshaping old patterns and tending to the soil feels really empowering. But what about when fear is one of those weeds? That reminds me of something I heard called "fear setting." Can we break that down? Like, where do you even start with it?

Denice

Sure thing. So, Fear Setting is a concept popularized by Tim Ferriss. It’s all about confronting your fears head-on, instead of just letting them run wild in your mind. You start by asking, "What’s the worst that could happen?"

Lisa

Mmhmm, like shining a big flashlight on the monster under the bed?

Denice

Exactly! And more often than not, that monster isn’t as big or scary as it seems. Once you know the worst-case scenario, and you’ve named it, you can actually start thinking about how to handle it. That’s step two: Plan for recovery.

Lisa

Okay, that makes sense. Like, if it happens, how do I bounce back? Right?

Denice

Right! You come up with a game plan. For example, if your worst-case scenario is losing a job, your recovery might involve updating your résumé, reaching out to your network, or even picking up new skills. And step three is about prevention—what can you do now to avoid the worst-case scenario altogether?

Lisa

Oh, I love that. It’s like flipping panic into productivity. Instead of sitting there freaking out, you’re—what’s the word—proactive?

Denice

Proactive, exactly! And here’s the amazing thing: when you focus on solutions, your brain starts rewiring itself. It’s confirmation bias in action. Instead of getting stuck on threats, you’re training your mind to notice opportunities, because you’re showing yourself there’s a way forward.

Lisa

Wait, wait. So you’re saying focusing on solutions can actually change how your brain works?

Denice

Oh, 100 percent. When you’re stuck in fear, your brain’s Reticular Activating System, or RAS, is scanning for danger constantly. It’s like your brain’s own personal algorithm, highlighting whatever it thinks is most important. But when you shift to problem-solving mode, you’re telling your RAS, "Hey, pay attention to solutions, not just the threats."

Lisa

That’s kinda wild. It’s, like, training your brain to be your ally instead of your alarm system.

Denice

Exactly. And that’s where faith comes into play, too, because it strengthens this whole process. It could be faith in a higher power, faith in your abilities, or just a general trust that you’re capable of handling whatever comes your way.

Lisa

Okay, so faith isn’t about ignoring reality, right? It’s more like... an anchor?

Denice

That’s a great way to put it. It’s about grounding yourself so you can respond with clarity and confidence, instead of letting fear drive. It’s a reminder that peace isn’t about avoiding challenges; it’s about knowing you can face them head-on.

Denice

You know, after talking about fear and anchoring yourself with faith, it made me think about how fear shows up in my own life—like those creeping doubts and insecurities that cloud your perspective. It’s amazing how tricky they can be.

Lisa

Oh, absolutely. It’s like wearing smudged glasses, right? You can’t see the full picture clearly, and if your judgment’s being filtered through fear, then how you react—well, that’s not gonna be accurate either.

Denice

Right. And it’s not just fear, it’s all those negative emotions—like you’re doubting yourself or creating problems before they even exist. For me, it's always been about trying to separate how I feel internally from what's actually going on.

Lisa

Exactly. Because when fear starts driving the bus, it’s like every little bump feels like a full-on crash. But when you pause, and you manage to clear those emotions out—even just a bit—it’s amazing how things come back into focus.

Denice

Yes! And you can finally see what’s in front of you, for what it really is.

Lisa

And that’s what makes clarity so powerful. Once you remove all the noise—like fear or those nagging doubts—you’re left with reality. And from there, your reactions are so much more grounded, so much more... intentional.

Denice

Okay, pause for a second. I love how you said “intentional.” Because responding versus reacting? That’s the shift, right?

Lisa

Exactly. Reacting is all emotion—it’s instinctual. Responding, though? That comes from clarity, from actually understanding what you’re dealing with. And the best part? It keeps you from making things worse.

Denice

Like a self-sabotage buffer?

Lisa

Oh, completely. Fear and doubt feed chaos, and that chaos feeds bad decisions. But once you anchor yourself in that “all is well” mindset—or whatever grounding thought works for you—it’s like clearing away the fog. Suddenly, you’re seeing lanes on the highway instead of thinking you’re speeding off a cliff.

Denice

And honestly, it’s not just about the big stuff, you know? This applies to little day-to-day things too. Like, if someone cuts you off in traffic and you’re already anxious, it’s so easy to spiral. But if you’re calm inside, it’s like... okay, that happened, move on. No need to blow it up.

Lisa

Exactly. Staying collected lets you keep things in proportion—which is huge. Because life? It’s always gonna come at you with challenges and curveballs. But how you see them dictates how you respond.

Denice

So, would you say clarity’s like step one in all of this?

Lisa

Totally. Reality might not always look how you want it to, but when you clear out those emotional roadblocks, you give yourself the best shot at dealing with it effectively. And that’s where empowerment really starts—when you trust yourself to see things as they are and respond in a way that actually works.

Denice

So, thinking about everything we just talked about—clarity, responding versus reacting, and staying grounded—here’s a challenge for you this week. It’s straightforward, but trust me, it’s transformative.

Lisa

Okay, I’m listening. What do we have for them?

Denice

Take five minutes—just five—and think about one limiting belief that’s been holding you back. Like, something small but persistent, you know?

Lisa

Mmm, like maybe you’ve been telling yourself, "I’m not good enough for that job," or "I can’t deal with this situation."

Denice

Exactly. It doesn’t have to be huge, just something that's been sitting there, getting in your way. Then, take that belief and flip the script. Replace it with an empowering thought. Something like, "I am capable," or "I can handle this."

Lisa

Ooh, I love that. It’s like giving your mind its own little pep talk.

Denice

Right? And here’s the key—write it down. I know it sounds basic, but putting it in writing makes it real. Then, whenever that doubt creeps in, pull out that thought and remind yourself.

Denice

And the cool part? You get to watch how it shifts your energy, even your perspective.

Lisa

Totally. It might be subtle at first—a little extra calm during your day, or seeing a situation just a bit differently—but those small shifts add up.

Denice

So true. And the more you practice it, the more natural it becomes. Kind of like watering that garden we talked about earlier.

Lisa

Exactly. You’re tending to your mind, pulling out the weeds of doubt, and planting seeds of self-belief. It’s all connected.

Denice

You know, Lisa, I’ve been thinking about how powerful perspective really is. It reminds me of this scene in Dumb and Dumber. Do you remember it?

Lisa

Of course! It’s a classic. Jim Carrey at his best.

Denice

Exactly! So, Jim Carrey’s character finally works up the courage to ask his love interest what his chances are. He’s all in, right? He even tells her to give it to him straight because he’s come a long way to see her. And then she says, "Not good." The music stops dramatically.

Lisa

Oh, I can feel it already. Poor guy.

Denice

But he’s not done. He presses on, asking, “You mean like 1 in 100?” And she hits him with, “More like 1 in a million.” At that moment, the whole audience feels his pain.

Lisa

And that’s when he flips the script, right?

Denice

Yep! He just lights up and says, “So...you’re telling me there’s a chance. YESSSS!”

Lisa

I love it! That’s the perfect example of choosing a perspective that empowers you, no matter the odds.

Denice

Exactly. And that’s the spirit we want to leave you with today—no matter what you’re facing, you always have the power to choose how you see it.

Lisa

Thank you all for listening! We hope you found value in today’s episode. If you did, we’d love for you to share this episode with someone who might need to hear it today.

Denice

Remember—training your mind is like building a muscle. Repetition creates reality. Try it. Test it. Tweak it. And see what changes when you do the work from the inside out. That said, until next time...

Lisa

May the power of mindfulness be with you,

Denice

Always!