Empowering parents of tweens and teens to turn stress into calmness and strength. Guide your children to manage transitions with confidence and resilience. Mental fitness will teach you 'how.'
Feeling stuck isn't just about being in a rut; it's about being trapped in negative thought loops that keep us from living our fullest lives. The first step toward change is recognizing that you're stuck in the first place. As one of my clients wisely put it, "We are choosing what we aren't changing."
What does it mean to be stuck?
Emotions like anxiety, stress, or anger are natural. But when they linger and start to dominate our thoughts, they signal something deeper. Being stuck means you're operating on autopilot, reacting to life rather than engaging with it consciously. This mental state can affect every aspect of your life, from your relationships to your performance at work.
Mindset shift 1: Self-awareness
The journey to getting unstuck begins with self-awareness. Stop normalizing feeling stressed and anxious. Instead, recognize when your thoughts trigger heavy emotions. The quicker you can intercept those negative thought patterns, the more control you'll have over your reactions. While these autopilot responses are deeply ingrained, mental fitness allows you to build new neural pathways that align with your truth, intentions, and a sense of ease and flow.
Mindset shift 2: Identifying your inner saboteurs
Lasting change can't happen unless you understand how your past survival techniques are holding you back. You can read all the motivational quotes and watch endless TED Talks, but without addressing your internal saboteurs, progress stalls.
Ellie shared, "I knew I did not want to choose how I was feeling anymore. I didn’t want to choose to be triggered all the time or to feel out of control mentally and emotionally. I decided these negative feelings controlling every aspect of my life were not going to be my forever."
Mindset shift 3: Strengthening your mental fitness muscles
Mental fitness isn't just a meme or concept: it's a practice. By focusing on building three core mental muscles, you will regain control and find clarity:
Saboteur interceptor muscle: Catch those negative, autopilot thoughts before they take over or linger.
Self-command muscle: Use a simple 10-second practice to reset your mind for clarity and calm in the moment.
Sage power games: Practical power tools that allow you to shift perspectives and find new solutions to stuck circumstances.
Ellie also shared, "Mental fitness is how I show myself the love I have for me, my mind, and my heart. Working out those Sage muscles has given me back control, opened my eyes to a wider perspective, and allowed me to face my saboteurs with compassion. It has also given me the chance to be an example to those I love, showing them it’s never too late to break unhealthy cycles."
What does life look like after mental fitness?
When you commit to mental fitness, you'll become a better listener and be more present with your loved ones. You'll respond to challenges with calmness instead of reactivity. You'll complete tasks with focus rather than being distracted by the next shiny object. Most importantly, you'll approach yourself and others with compassion, breaking free from self-sabotage and victimhood.
Mental fitness helps you build momentum, celebrating each small step toward a healthier, happier you. As Ellie realized, "We need to treat ourselves just as well as we treat those we love. I want the loves in my life to always feel their most authentic, balanced selves, to not feel hijacked, and to not lose themselves to their saboteurs. Mental fitness is how we love ourselves and others."
In summary
Life is too short to play small and choose to remain stuck. Mental fitness isn't a one-time fix; it's a lifelong practice. But the benefits are clear: stronger relationships, improved performance, and a deeper connection to yourself and those you love.
The journey begins with one simple step: admitting you're stuck and deciding you're ready to move forward.
Ready to get unstuck?
Take the first step by completing this free mindset assessment to identify your saboteurs: click here.
Then, take a bolder action step and book a free mind-blowing discovery call with Barb to explore how mental fitness will empower you to move forward here.
Read more from Barb Kornbrath
Barb Kornbrath, Certified Positive Intelligence Coach
Barb Kornbrath empowers parents of tweens and teens to manage stress. She helps improve communication, manage anxiety, and nurture emotional intelligence. Using mental fitness techniques, she supports parents in creating resilient, loving family dynamics. Barb transforms parenting challenges into lifelong learning opportunities. Her mission is to promote conscious parenting, one mindset at a time. Happy, thriving parents and kids await!
