Welcome back! I’m Jenna, and unless you’re new here, you know that I give it to you straight. Today, I’m diving right into a topic that I know will resonate with so many of you—these fricking mental blocks that are holding you back from what you want so bad. I get so many DMs and emails every single day from people who want desperately to overcome their OCD and anxiety, and to quote, “never have these thoughts again,” and to just be able to be with their family. Insert goal here.

We all face these difficulties. We are all in our own way in so many different ways. Whether it’s fear, self-doubt, or procrastination, today we’re going to talk about how to actually overcome those barriers using evidence-based strategies.

7-Day Breakthrough Challenge

But before we jump in, I want to let you know that we have officially announced and are starting to accept signups for my upcoming 7-Day Breakthrough Challenge starting July 29th. If you’ve never heard of my seven-day challenge before, it is a crowd favorite. It’s called the 7-Day Breakthrough Challenge, complete with seven days of challenges to overcome anxiety and intrusive thoughts. It includes seven days of emails, a live Q&A kickoff call with me to get you motivated, and start to really bust through some of the blocks that we’re going to talk about right here, right now.

This is the best way to get into my resources if you’ve wanted to take things to the next level but weren’t sure where to get started. This $17 seven-day challenge will provide practical, effective strategies to help you move forward. Plus, you will have a Facebook community for support, daily homework assignments, and access to the videos forever. Signups start July 29th, with the live Q&A kickoff on August 14th and day one of the challenge is on August 19th.

Now, let’s talk about some of these difficulties that get in the freaking way.

Fear

Fear is one of the most common blocks that can hold you back from success. It’s that nagging voice in your head saying, “What if I fail?” or “What if I’m not good enough?” Fear can be straight-up paralyzing. But here’s the thing—fear and anxiety are normal parts of the human experience. It’s how you respond to it that matters.

When I think of strategies and tools I use with my clients and students in the OCD and Anxiety Recovery Blueprint course, I lean on things like exposures, behavioral experiments, and reducing avoidance behaviors. The idea is simple but challenging—facing your fears head-on without giving in to compulsions or the urge to avoid or escape.

By exposing yourself to the source of your fear in a controlled and gradual way, you can reduce the power that fear and anxiety have over you. For example, if you’re afraid of public speaking, start by speaking in front of small, supportive groups and gradually increase your audience size.

I also use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which provides valuable strategies for dealing with fear. Instead of trying to fight or eliminate fear, accept it as part of your experience and commit to taking action anyway. Allow yourself to feel anxiety without needing to get rid of it before moving forward. It’s about living a values-driven life, even when fear is present. Ask yourself, “What do I want my life to stand for?” and take steps toward those values, even if it means feeling uncomfortable along the way.

Self-Doubt

Self-doubt can be incredibly limiting. It’s that voice telling you that you’re not smart enough, talented enough, or deserving of success. But here’s the truth—all of that is a bunch of bullshit. You need to challenge and change the assumptions that fuel self-doubt.

The approaches I use with clients and students focus on identifying the distorted beliefs that lead to feelings of inadequacy and replacing them with more realistic and constructive thought processes. Instead of thinking, “I’m never going to be good at this,” reframe it to, “I can improve with practice and effort.”

It’s not about being overly optimistic; it’s about being realistic and considering the whole picture rather than just the negative story OCD and anxiety want to tell you.

Self-compassion is another key strategy. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would give to a loved one or friend. When self-doubt creeps in, acknowledge it, but don’t let it dictate your actions. Remind yourself that everyone struggles and that mistakes are part of the learning process. Kristen Neff does great work on self-compassion, highlighting the importance of being kind to yourself, recognizing our shared humanity, and practicing mindfulness.

Procrastination

Procrastination, or putting things off, is often a symptom of underlying issues like fear of failure or perfectionism. It’s a way to avoid discomfort, but it just creates more stress and anxiety in the long run. Every time you procrastinate, you send your brain the message that the task is insurmountable, making it seem worse over time.

Mindfulness can be effective in combating procrastination. By bringing your focus to the present moment, you can break the cycle of avoidance and take actionable steps toward your goals. Set a timer for five minutes and commit to working on a task for that short period. Often, starting is the hardest part, but once you get going, it’s easier to continue.

Consider the importance of taking what we call “committed action.” Break down your tasks into smaller, more manageable steps that align with your values. Ask yourself, “What’s one small thing I can do right now that moves me closer to my goal?” Then do it. It might not feel comfortable at first, but it’s essential to push through. Celebrate small victories because they build momentum and confidence.

Are You Holding Yourself Back?

To recap, we’ve talked about fear, self-doubt, and procrastination—three mental blocks that can hold you back from success. By using the strategies discussed here and more in my 7-Day Breakthrough Challenge, you can break through these barriers and start living a life that aligns with your values and goals. Remember, overcoming these mental blocks is a journey. It takes time, practice, and persistence, but you are capable, and I’ve got your back.

Thank you so much for tuning in. Keep fighting this fight, and remember, you’ve got this.

Keep doing all the hard things. Bye for now.

👏 Unlock your free 40-minute video on “5 Must-Know Strategies for Handling Anxiety and Intrusive Thoughts”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jennaoverbaughlpc.com/strategies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🧠 Start your transformation today with the Mental Compulsion Mini Course referenced in this episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jennaoverbaughlpc.com/mental-compulsions⁠

💪 Ready to conquer OCD/anxiety? Explore The OCD and Anxiety Recovery Blueprint – with or without a therapist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jennaoverbaughlpc.com/blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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