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"I'm Tired of My Own Thoughts . . . and I Know I'm Not Alone"

Hello Friend!

Let me just go ahead and say it plainly…

I am tired.

Not tired of my work.
Not tired of my purpose.
Not tired of showing up.

I’m tired of my own thoughts.

Yes… I said it.

Because as positive as I am… as much as I teach mindset… as much as I pour into others…

There are still moments—throughout my day—when my mind tries to take me out.

And if I’m honest?
It doesn’t just whisper.

Sometimes it floods.

The Thoughts We Don’t Talk About Enough

You know the ones:

• “They’re not going to like you.”
• “You’re not saying anything new.”
• “Who’s going to care about what you have to say?”
• “This probably isn’t going to make a difference.”

And here’s the thing that makes it even more frustrating…

We’ve heard all the advice.

“Think positive.”
“Shift your mindset.”
“Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.”

But nobody really talks about how constant it can feel.

How it shows up:

• Before the meeting
• Before the presentation
• Before you hit “send”
• Before you finally step into that next level

It’s exhausting.

And if you’re not careful… it will have you shrinking, hesitating, and second-guessing what you know you’re called to do.

What Shifted Something in Me

Recently, I was listening to a sermon by Steven Furtick titled “It Still Works.”

And when he said that he experiences those same thoughts before every sermon…

I paused.

Because let’s be real—that’s someone operating on a global stage.

And yet… the thoughts still show up.

That did something for me.

It normalized what I was feeling—but more importantly…

It challenged me.

He said:

“Faith often looks like taking action even while you feel full of doubt. But for every challenge that makes you feel insufficient, you have a God who is faithful to bring you through.”

That right there?

That was my moment.

The Truth I Had to Accept

The thoughts might not go away.

Let me say that again for the people in the back:

The thoughts might not go away.

But that doesn’t mean they get to be in charge.

Because when I really sat with it, I realized something powerful:

Almost every single time I:

• Speak to an audience
• Coach a client
• Lead a session
• Write something meaningful

I walk away feeling:

• Aligned
• Fulfilled
• On purpose

And more often than not?

I receive confirmation that what I did mattered.

So the issue isn’t the after.

It’s the before.

And I’m Done Letting the “Before” Control Me

I had to have a real conversation with myself:

“Girl… you’ve done this too many times to keep acting like this.”

Because at some point, growth requires a different level of ownership.

Not just:

• “I know better”

But:

• “I’m going to do better—on purpose.”

So here’s what I’ve decided:

✔ I’m not waiting to feel ready anymore
✔ I’m not overthinking what I’ve already been equipped to do
✔ I’m not rehearsing failure in my mind before I even begin

Instead?

I’m interrupting the pattern.

What I’m Doing Differently (And You Can Too)

I’m getting intentional about what I feed my mind before I show up.

• I created a pre-speaking playlist that shifts my energy
• I speak affirmations out loud, not just in my head
• I remind myself of receipts—real moments where I showed up and made an impact
• And sometimes?

I just say:

“Do it anyway.”

Legs shaking. Voice steady. Purpose clear.

Let Me Be Even More Direct…

If you’re waiting until:

• You feel confident
• You feel ready
• You feel qualified
• You feel fearless

You’re going to be waiting for a long time.

Because confidence doesn’t come before the action.

It comes because of it.

Reflection Time (Don’t Skip This Part)

Take a few moments and sit with these:

1. What negative thoughts show up for you right before you need to perform, speak, lead, or step up?
2. When have you pushed through those thoughts—and it turned out better than expected?
3. What is one lie your mind keeps repeating that you are now ready to challenge?
4. What would it look like for you to act in faith instead of waiting for certainty?
5. What is one thing you will do this week… even if your mind tries to talk you out of it?

Write it down. Be honest. No filters.

Your Next Step (Let’s Go Deeper Together)

If this message hit you in that “okay… she’s talking directly to me” kind of way…

Then I want to personally invite you to my upcoming free webinar:

“The Hidden Ways We Self-Sabotage at Work”​
📅 Wednesday, May 14, 2026

Because what we talked about today?

This is just one layer.

In this session, we’re going to dig into:

• The subtle habits that are holding you back
• The patterns you may not even realize you have
• And practical ways to shift them so you can show up fully and confidently

If this resonated with you, your next step is to register for the webinar.

Don’t overthink it.
Don’t talk yourself out of it.

Just… take the step.

CLICK Here to Register

Final Thought

You don’t need a new calling.
You don’t need more talent.
You don’t need to become someone else.

You just need to stop letting your thoughts run the show.

And if you’re anything like me?

You’re not staying there anymore.

With you on this journey, always!

Dr. Matteel Knowles

Founder & CEO, MatteelSpeaks, LLC
​It’s Your Time to SOAR!

🌐 www.MatteelSpeaks.com​
📬 Want to connect or share your reflections? Email me at Matteel@MatteelSpeaks.com or find me on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.

CLICK Here to REGISTER

IT'S YOUR TIME TO SOAR!"

Dr. Matteel Knowles

Founder and CEO, Matteel Speaks, LLC

www.MatteelSpeaks.com

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​Striving, Overcoming, Achieving, and Reimagining Your Path to Success . . . "SOAR!" is a monthly newsletter from Dr. Matteel to keep you inspired and empowered to transform your life! For more information, visit MatteelSpeaks.com

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