The Mountain We Create in Our Heads
- Sarah Bodo
- Mar 9
- 2 min read
I use this blog to share insights I discover for myself — in case they might be relevant for you, too. And lately, I’ve been reflecting on how our own thoughts can make things feel much bigger than they really are.
One of the things I’m actively working on is imposter syndrome. And in the last few weeks, I’ve noticed just how brilliant my mind is at building mountains out of self-doubt.
How My Mind Created a Mountain
I recently took over a new responsibility in a group, following someone who had managed it successfully for years. The transition stretched out over time, and as the official handover approached, my mind started spinning stories:
🧠 “I’m not helping the group enough.”
🧠 “How can I be in charge if I don’t fully understand everything yet?”
🧠 “The first meeting is going to be a disaster.”
🧠 “Everyone will see I have no clue what I’m doing.”
I wasn’t even sure what exactly needed to be part of that meeting, but instead of asking directly, I let these doubts grow in my head.
So, I finally set up a quick call with one of the leaders to check expectations and understand how I could best contribute.
And guess what?
💡 It turns out that the meeting itself is changing, and I am actually part of shaping it for the future.
💡 We set up bi-weekly calls to stay aligned.
💡 And then—completely unexpectedly—I was asked if I’d like to host the next meeting or wait until the following one.
At the end of the day, there was never any expectation that I had to lead immediately. But the stories I told myself made me feel smaller—until I fact-checked them.
Now? I am leading the meeting — because I feel supported and prepared to learn. But that’s not how I felt before I got out of my own head.
The Power of Fact-Checking Your Own Stories
The biggest takeaway?
✔️ Reality and our internal stories are often two different things.✔️ Fact-check your fears—especially the ones telling you that you’re not good enough.
✔️ Not every piece of feedback (even from yourself!) is based on full information.
This isn’t just about me — how many opportunities have you hesitated to take because you thought you weren’t ready or good enough?
Your Turn: Challenge the Stories in Your Head
💭 When was the last time you believed something about yourself that turned out not to be true?
💡 How would things change if you fact-checked your doubts instead of assuming they’re real?
I might not know you personally (yet!), but as someone who believes in the potential of people, I want to remind you:
you are more capable than you think.
And just like I’m learning to believe in myself, I hope you do, too.
Find Your Wave,
Sarah 🌊
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