Soundtracks and Vampires

“The space between where I am and where I want to be is often the thing that frightens me the most.” – Tracee Ellis Ross

Fear can often seem like an invisible wall, holding us back or leaving us stuck in old cycles of worry. Rewriting old scripts can seem impossible. One of my greatest monster fears as a child was featured in my most recurring nightmares, vampires. I blame it on Dark Shadows, the daytime soap opera my mom adored. After each nightmare, I’d try the “It’s not real—pray for calm and think happy thoughts" method. Chasing the dream away never worked for long. Unease crept back in as the day wore on.

Then one night, instead of pushing the fear away, I stayed with it. I took a deep breath and imagined I was directing the scene: “Cut! Okay, vampires, a little less blood this time. Zombies, wait for your cue. Ready? Camera. Action!” I smiled at the thought of them hurrying back to their places. At that moment, I was no longer a captive—I became the creator. After a few minutes of calm breathing and dream-editing, I rested with a smile.

The nightmare never returned. Ever.

What recurring thoughts or worries have you been waking up to?

Changing the Channel on Fear and Anxiety

When negative thoughts or anxiety seem to be on auto-replay, tactics to “push it away” or “wait and see” often lead to even more stress later on and leave us vulnerable to what I can emotional "sideways smackdowns." Thoughts can become energy vampires that drain us.

One way to handle them? Change the channel and choose the soundtrack you want on repeat. If you notice a negative pattern, gently acknowledge it and get curious about ways to shift your mindset. Here are a few ways to help “change the dream”:

• Six words to stop anxiety: Mel Robins suggests these 6 powerful words, "What if it all works out?" Anxiety thrives in what-ifs that are worst-case scenarios. She says, "When you stop the racing thoughts and stop to consider the possibility that you might actually be okay [things can start to change].... Maybe this is the best thing that ever happened to you."
• Direct Your Mental Soundtrack: Words have power. Instead of thinking, “Things will never change,” try, “I’m curious to see how this changes. How can I see this differently?” See what you can find to be grateful for. You're producing a soundtrack with daily thoughts, why not focus on the thoughts that will add up to the masterpiece you would love? Small steps matter. Practice this regularly, and soon new feelings and thoughts will replace your old soundtrack.
• Gentle Affirmations: Actress Tracee Ellis Ross suggests using “May I” affirmations instead of “I am” statements. For instance, say, “May I live in my highest purpose” rather than “I am amazing.” This softer approach allows you to focus on growth without self-criticism of an "I am" that may feel unbelievable at first. Interesting, right?
• Put Your Records On: Powerful songs aren’t just for dance parties—although they can turn any day into one! A great song can shift your energy in an instant.

Here are some favorites from my playlist:

• “Kiss the Sky” by Maren Morris
• “Good Day” by Forrest Frank
• “You Can and You Will” by Sara Connell
• “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey
• “I Ain’t Worried” by OneRepublic
• “Unstoppable” by Sia
• “Roar” by Katy Perry
• “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves
• “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons
• “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas

What are your go-to songs for a quick happy energy dance and task focus? Want more? Check out author, entrepreneur, and brand new Shark Tank member, Jamie Kern Lima 's NYT #1 mega-bestseller book Worthy song playlist: Listen here.

And here’s a bonus challenge from Sandra Bullock: “The rule is you have to dance a little bit in the morning before you leave the house because it changes the way you walk out into the world.”

Challenge accepted!

How do you shift to a mindset that works with you instead of against you? I'm eager to hear!

As an expert in healing trauma, I know that we can't change everything with a song, and I also know that small shifts can start a whole new journey. If you feel stuck and want more tools feel free to DM me. Let's connect.

#ChooseYourSoundtrack #PositivityInPractice #MindsetShift"