In this mindset-shifting episode, Anya gets real about the negative thoughts that sneak into our minds—and how to stop letting them take over. Whether you’ve told yourself *“I’m a procrastinator,”* *“I can’t keep up,”* or *“I’m just not enough,”* this episode walks you through exactly how to catch those thoughts, challenge them, and replace them with something better.

Backed by neuroscience, practical examples, and mom-life reality, this is your go-to reset when your mind feels cluttered and your confidence feels low.

🔗 Full Episode Details

Key Takeaways:

1. Your mind can only hold one thought at a time—so choose it intentionally.
Most thoughts are neutral until we believe them. Don’t give negative thoughts free rent in your brain.
2. Every negative thought is an opportunity to rewire your belief system. You're not responsible for your first thought, but you are responsible for the second one.
3. Emotions are like waves—you can’t stop them from rising, but you can choose whether or not to ride them.
Gratitude helps activate your parasympathetic nervous system and reset your emotional state.
4. Behavior doesn’t lie. You rebuild self-worth by how you treat yourself—clear one drawer, get up when the alarm rings, take one small step. Action is everything.
5. Your energy speaks louder than your words.
Children don’t just hear what you say—they absorb the emotional tone you lead with. Calm starts with you.

In this episode, we discuss:

00:00 — The mental junk drawer—why we start here

00:28 — How thoughts shape energy, nervous system, and self-worth

00:52 — Interrupting the spiral and reclaiming clarity

01:10 — Welcome to The Anya Garcia Show + courtroom to homeschool journey

02:15 — The voice of doubt and what truly creates peace

03:10 — Neuroscience proof: One thought at a time

03:45 — Mental chaos illusion: your brain's switching trick

04:20 — The whisper of excuses that shape your identity

05:12 — Linda Clemons’ moment: Why rent-free thoughts must go

06:00 — Kitchen chaos story + the gut-punch moment

07:05 — How one thought hijacks your nervous system in 30 seconds

07:50 — Calm to chaos: identity formed by what you believe

08:20 — Fight-or-flight: what your brain is wired for vs. what you need

09:12 — Modern-day tigers: comparison, guilt, and fear

10:00 — My messy morning story + sunscreen art hack

11:02 — One thought shift = new energy and new identity

11:30 — Behavior > labels: prove that inner voice wrong

12:28 — Morning myth and 2011 jeans debunked with action

13:05 — Gratitude’s biological power and ancient roots

13:50 — Pause, question, gratitude: the fastest nervous system reset

14:25 — Children absorb your energy—not just your words

14:52 — Emotions and thoughts as waves—you decide what to ride

15:30 — Thought neutrality: shore of your mind exercise

15:55 — Choose thoughts that serve you + final wisdom

16:09 — Weekly challenge + closing inspiration and gratitude

Resources & Links

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⚓️ Navigate with MKAPtains Kids Activities Club – Get a done-for-you Monthly Activity Plan that makes learning hands-on and fun—so you can spend less time planning and more time playing!

🧭 Join Mamas' Compass Circle™ where you will find support, monthly content, and practical tools for moms craving calm, clarity and confidence. No pressure. Just presence.

🎓 Let’s Do This Together - You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. With over a decade of experience helping parents worldwide, I’ve mastered how to simplify homeschooling to amplify your child’s growth—without the stress or overwhelm.

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📑 Research & Sources Mentioned

• Clemons, L. (n.d.). Mindset keynote presentation. MindValley Live. (Quote referenced: “Don’t let negative thoughts live in your mind rent-free.”)
• Dispenza, J. (2017). Becoming Supernatural: How Common People Are Doing the Uncommon. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc.
• Hebb, D. O. (1949). The Organization of Behavior: A Neuropsychological Theory. New York: Wiley.
• Einstein, A. (n.d.). "The mind can only hold one thought at a time." Widely attributed, cited in focus and mindset research.
• Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind. New York: Delacorte Press.

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🎙 Thanks for tuning in and I will see you next week!

Since your mind can only hold one thought at a time, why do we let negative thoughts live in our minds rent-free? Let's kickstart your week by cleaning out the mental junk drawer.

You see, your thoughts shape your nervous system, your energy, and your self-worth. So let's take back control. This episode is your reminder that you don't.

You don't need to believe everything you think—especially the thoughts that were never yours to begin with. You're going to interrupt the spiral, rewrite the narrative, and replace mental noise with clarity, confidence, and calm.

Because you're not just thinking your way through parenting—you are leading with your mind. Let's make it a powerful place to lead from. Hey, my friend, and welcome to the Anya Garcia Show.

Here we will explore the science of learning, the art of parenting, and the mindset shifts that help you simplify your journey to amplify your growth. You see, I thought I would find purpose in courtrooms until motherhood showed me it was waiting at home.

So I traded my attorney briefcase for the beauty of homeschooling, depositions for diapers, and settlements for sensory play. I stepped off the legal path so that I can walk it with you. Because parenting doesn't come with a manual or legal briefs.

So no wonder it can feel overwhelming and messy. But I see you showing up every day—even when no one is watching. And that little voice—am I doing enough? I hear it too. But here is the truth:

You don't need more to be enough. Because more doesn't create peace. Alignment does. Progress matters more than perfection. And when you stop doubting, you start leading with confidence.

And before you know it, you've created a space where you and your child thrive. Because humans are born with this natural desire to learn and grow—and I am here to help you harness that. Your child's potential is limitless.

And so is yours. We just need to unlock it. Did you know that your mind can only hold one thought at a time? Einstein said it. And neuroscience backs it up.

I know, I know—you feel like you've got multiple voices arguing in your head all day long. But the truth is, your brain is not processing them all at once.

It is rapidly switching between thoughts, giving the illusion of mental chaos, when really it's just one dominant thought at a time that's taking center stage. And that one thought? It becomes your mood, your momentum, your identity—if you let it stick around long enough.

So the real question is: Which thought are you choosing to give the microphone to? Because that thought isn't just speaking—it is affecting your mood, your energy, your actions.

That thought isn't just whispering—it's nudging you with excuses: Just snooze that alarm. You went to bed late, huh? You don't need to go for the run today. It's raining.

Anyway, don't worry about doing that activity with your kid. You can start fresh tomorrow. But that whisper is directing your decisions. And those decisions? They're shaping your identity.

That's why Linda Clemons' words hit me so hard during the Mindvalley event. She asked, why do we let negative thoughts live in our minds rent-free? And honestly, why do we?

Why do we allow the lies, the fears, the outdated stories to pull up a chair, unpack their bags, and dictate how we feel—when they’ve done nothing to earn that space? Okay, let me paint you a picture: You're standing in the middle of your kitchen, barefoot, in pajamas. The baby's crying.

Your phone is buzzing with unread texts. And there is a full-blown cereal explosion from the hallway to your toes. It's 7:12 and you haven't even had your first sip of coffee.

And then it comes. Not just a thought—a gut punch: I'm a mess. I can't keep up. Everyone else is doing it better.

And before you know it, you're not just cleaning up Cheerios. You're spiraling into shame, overwhelm—and that familiar sense of failure. And all it took was one thought. Here's what no one tells you:

A single negative thought can take root like a weed in just four to six seconds. And it only takes 30 seconds for a negative thought to completely hijack your entire nervous system.

One lie can spiral into a bad day. But one powerful reframe can reclaim it. That's how you go from calm to chaos, from grounded to reactive, from "I've got this" to "I'm not enough." The thought you dwell on becomes your identity.

So today we're going to pull those weeds out at the root. This mindset shift episode is about action over emotion and gratitude over fear.

Because while your brain was built for survival, you were born to thrive. And that shift? It's not emotional—it's biological.

You see, negative thoughts trigger the sympathetic nervous system—also known as fight-or-flight response. Your heart races. Your stress hormones spike. You're no longer parenting with presence—you’re surviving by default. And here's the wild part:

Your brain doesn't care whether it's a saber-toothed tiger or a never-ending to-do list. Your body reacts the same. According to neuroscience and Hebbian theory—neurons that fire together wire together.

So if the thought you hold onto the longest is "I'm not enough," that becomes your identity, your decisions, your emotional blueprint. But it doesn't have to be this way. Because you are not responsible for the first thought—but you are responsible for the next one.

Okay, let's zoom out. Your brain evolved to prioritize threat. Not beauty. Not peace. Threat. Why?

Because for 2.5 million years, your ancestors didn't need positive thinking—they needed to not get eaten. So your brain isn't designed to seek truth or happiness or bliss. It is designed to scan for danger. And today's tigers?

It's the comparison scroll. The guilt of not serving your little one broccoli for dinner. The fear you're messing it all up. But here is the truth: You are not in a jungle anymore.

You are in your kitchen. And the only lion is the one in your head—roaring fears that are not even real. I remember a morning just like that. I snoozed the alarm four times.

Opened Instagram before I even opened both eyes. Spilled my coffee. Missed a bill deadline. And Adrian? He turned the wall into his personal art gallery with a permanent marker. By the way—pro tip: a little sunscreen spray works magic on that kind of masterpiece.

In the meantime, what did I think? I'm a disaster. I can't even keep it together.

And that thought—it settled in fast and started rearranging the furniture in my mind. Until I stopped. I went upstairs and made my bed. Took three deep breaths. Reheated my coffee. And whispered, "You're not a mess. You're just having a messy morning."

And that one shift changed everything.

Now let's get real. Because talk is cheap—but behavior doesn't lie. You think, "I'm a procrastinator"? Here's the tip: prove the opposite with your actions. Open your laptop. Set a 10-minute timer. That's momentum in motion.

Or let's say you think, "I'm not a morning person." First time you hear the alarm—get up anyway. You just rewired your belief.

Or you may be thinking, "I'm just not good at this." Take one tiny step and say, "I'm not good at this... yet." That is rewiring in action.

You see, you don't need a complete reinvention. You need one new thought—followed by one new behavior.

Because behavior doesn't lie. Self-worth is not built through thoughts alone. It is built through how you show up for yourself and for others.

And when in doubt? Lean on gratitude.

Gratitude activates the parasympathetic nervous system—your calm state. It brings you out of chaos and into calm, out of fear and into focus.

If enlightenment is 100 on the human evolution scale, gratitude scores a high 90. It's ancient. It's powerful. And it works.

So next time you feel the spiral starting, do this: pause and ask, "What am I feeling?" Is it serving me?

Then name one thing you're grateful for. Just one. And it doesn't have to be profound—something as simple as a fresh breeze, warm sun, or hot coffee that's actually still hot.

That one thought—it shifts your nervous system and your body. It calms your presence. And that energy? Your child feels it instantly.

Because children don't just hear your words. They absorb your state.

They ride the emotional current you're sending out—whether it's calm or chaotic.

And that brings us to this: think of emotions as being like waves.

You can't stop them from rising, but you can choose whether or not to ride them all the way in.

You don't have to get swept away every time fear, frustration, or doubt shows up. You can pause. Breathe. Watch it pass.

And then—choose a better one to surf.

Because here's the truth: your thoughts are like waves. They're neutral until you believe in them.

So try this: imagine you are standing on the shore of your mind. Watch the waves roll in without judgment. Some will be messy. Some will be loud. Some familiar. But not every wave deserves your energy or attention.

Just because a thought shows up doesn't mean you have to believe it.

You are not your fear. You are not your doubt. And you are certainly not the voice that says, "I can't do this."

Don't judge your thoughts. Guide them.

Choose only the ones that serve you.

You are bigger than your emotions. Bigger than the limiting beliefs trying to hold you back.

And if you take one thing from this episode, let it be this:

You are not responsible for the initial thought. But you are 100% responsible for the second one—the one you choose on purpose.

Every negative thought is an opportunity. It's a test. And you always have the option to choose better.

That is the power of awareness. It doesn't erase the waves. It teaches you how to ride them with grace.

So here's your challenge this week: catch one negative thought. Just one. Don't judge it. Don't shame it. Don't spiral. Just catch it.

Then choose the next thought on purpose—and make it 1% more true. 1% more powerful. Then take one tiny action that backs it up.

No grand gestures. Just aligned movement.

Because you are not here to be perfect. You are here to be present. You are here to show up for yourself—one choice, one breath, one new thought at a time.

And you are not the voice in your head. You are the one deciding whether or not to believe it.

Okay, my sweet friend, that's your mindset reset for today. And if this landed in your heart, share it with another friend who needs this reminder.

Because you are worthy. You are powerful. And no—you don't have to let negative thoughts build a home in your mind rent-free.

Let's lead with clarity. Let's anchor in gratitude. Let's reclaim your mental real estate—one thought at a time.

Thanks for tuning in, my friend. And I cannot wait to see you next time.