Anxiety, overthinking, and deep-rooted negative beliefs are challenges many people face today. In this empowering blog, Neeti Keswani, the host of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast, sits down with Mike Wood, creator of the "Learn to Love Being You" 10-week program. Together, they discuss practical, actionable solutions to overcome anxiety, manage overthinking, and cultivate lasting self-awareness and self-love.
Mike Wood has helped countless individuals—including athletes, business leaders, and everyday people—reprogram their subconscious minds and replace anxiety and fear with peace and empowerment. In this insightful Q&A, Neeti asks Mike 10 highly important questions focused on anxiety, its root causes, and practical steps to find freedom from its grasp.
1. Neeti Keswani: Mike, why do so many people struggle with overthinking and anxiety in today’s fast-paced world?
Mike Wood: Overthinking and anxiety are often the result of unresolved past traumas and deeply ingrained negative core beliefs. In today’s society, we’re constantly bombarded by information and expectations, which amplify our fears about the future. Most people think anxiety comes from the present or future, but the truth is, it’s often rooted in old memories and experiences that are still being replayed in our subconscious mind. Our subconscious doesn’t understand time—it only understands the present moment. So, if at age five you believed you weren’t smart enough because of a teacher’s frustration, that belief lives in you today as anxiety when you face public speaking or a high-stakes interview.
2. Neeti Keswani: How does the "anxiety of the heart" differ from general anxiety or overthinking?
Mike Wood: The anxiety of the heart is more subtle but deeply impactful. It’s that lingering feeling of unworthiness, the fear of not being good enough, lovable enough, or successful enough. Unlike general anxiety, which is often linked to external events or future worries, the anxiety of the heart stems from negative core beliefs—like feeling unworthy of love or success. This type of anxiety doesn’t respond well to surface-level solutions like taking deep breaths or distraction techniques alone. It requires deep self-awareness, compassion, and forgiveness to heal.
3. Neeti Keswani: Can you explain how our core beliefs are programmed and how they fuel overthinking and anxiety?
Mike Wood: Absolutely. Core beliefs are formed when we experience emotionally intense moments as children. For example, if a child feels rejected by a parent or embarrassed by a teacher, that intense emotion creates a powerful memory. The subconscious mind takes this as a truth, like "I’m not smart enough" or "I don’t belong." As adults, we don’t consciously remember all these moments, but the beliefs are running in the background. When we face challenges—like preparing for a job interview—these old beliefs resurface, triggering anxious thoughts like “What if they see I’m not good enough?” Overthinking kicks in as a way to ‘protect’ us, but really, it’s just a replay of the past.
4. Neeti Keswani: What are the first practical steps someone can take today to stop overthinking and anxiety from controlling their life?
Mike Wood: The first step is self-awareness—learning to separate yourself from your thoughts. Most people think their thoughts are who they are, but they are not. You are the observer of your thoughts. Once you realize that, you can begin to disarm them. I teach three practical steps:
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Gratitude journaling: Every morning, write down 3 things you’re grateful for. This shifts your mind from worry to appreciation.
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Box breathing technique: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. This simple practice immediately pulls you into the present moment.
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Reframing negative thoughts: Instead of saying “I’m stupid,” ask, “What evidence do I have for that thought?” and replace it with “I’m learning every day.”
5. Neeti Keswani: How does the Ho’oponopono technique fit into overcoming anxiety and overthinking?
Mike Wood: Ho’oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian forgiveness practice. Its core is simple: “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.” This practice helps release the negative energy connected to our past experiences. In my coaching, I encourage people to mentally repeat this to themselves while revisiting painful memories. For example, if you remember being laughed at in school for not reading well, you can forgive your teacher, yourself, and even the other students. This clears the emotional charge attached to the memory. Once that burden is lifted, the anxiety connected to it starts to dissolve.
6. Neeti Keswani: What role does self-love play in breaking free from anxiety and overthinking?
Mike Wood: Self-love is critical. Most people suffering from anxiety or overthinking believe they aren’t lovable, capable, or enough. I teach that self-love begins by acknowledging that we are not our thoughts. You don’t have to be proud or perfect to love yourself—you just have to be willing to treat yourself with kindness. Self-love is not about ego; it’s about understanding your inherent worth as a human being. When you accept yourself without judgment, anxiety loses its power because the subconscious no longer sees you as someone who needs to be protected or fixed.
7. Neeti Keswani: How quickly can someone see results using these techniques?
Mike Wood: It’s faster than most people think. I had two young women in their early 20s who had been on high-dose anxiety medication for years. Within a week and a half of following my program, they stopped taking their meds and have been medication-free for over two years now. Why? Because anxiety is just thoughts about the future, often replaying past negative beliefs. When you start practicing gratitude, breathing techniques, and self-reframing consistently, your brain rewires quickly. It’s like manual training of the mind.
8. Neeti Keswani: Can you explain why even high-performing athletes struggle with anxiety despite their hard training?
Mike Wood: It’s a pre-programmed subconscious response. Take a wrestler who excels in practice but freezes when facing an opponent. His brain is trying to protect him from past perceived failures—like being called weak by a parent or coach as a child. Even though they’ve trained, the old negative beliefs are triggered in the moment. The subconscious doesn’t differentiate between past and present. The only way to reprogram this is to go back to the original memory, forgive, reframe, and release the emotional charge.
9. Neeti Keswani: How do you personally handle someone having an anxiety attack during your coaching session?
Mike Wood: I center myself first. I quiet my mind and open my heart chakra to create a safe space. I don’t think about giving advice in that moment—I just sit with the person, surrender my ego, and trust the wisdom of the universe to flow through me. Often, the right words come without conscious effort. I use simple breathwork or ask them to repeat affirmations like “I am safe. I am loved.” The key is presence and compassion. There’s no judgment—just love.
10. Neeti Keswani: What’s your final advice for anyone struggling with overthinking, anxiety of the heart, and negative core beliefs?
Mike Wood: My advice is simple but powerful: practice presence, self-awareness, and forgiveness daily. Start small—practice gratitude, do breathing exercises, and separate yourself from your thoughts. Remind yourself: “I am not my thoughts.” Most importantly, forgive yourself and others. You can’t heal what you don’t forgive. Overthinking and anxiety are old stories you don’t need to believe anymore. The moment you recognize them as stories, their power over you begins to fade.
🌱 Understanding the Science Behind Anxiety and Overthinking
Anxiety is often misunderstood as just being about the future or being overly worried. However, Mike Wood explains it beautifully: “Anxiety is simply thoughts about the future, but the cause is old negative core beliefs stuck in the present moment.” Science supports this, too. The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for fear responses, doesn’t differentiate between past and present. It reacts based on emotion, not logic or time.
This is why traditional methods like willpower or distraction don’t always work. The subconscious mind holds onto the original trauma or limiting belief, and until that is consciously rewired, anxiety keeps looping.
✅ Practical Example: Reframing Negative Core Beliefs
Let’s look at a real-life scenario.
Case Study – Sarah’s Public Speaking Anxiety
Sarah, a business consultant in her 30s, used to freeze during presentations, even though she was highly qualified. She would think, “Everyone will see I’m not good enough.” Through Mike Wood’s program, Sarah learned to:
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Identify the root belief: “I’m not smart enough.”
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Revisit the original moment: She remembered being scolded by a teacher in school for making a mistake in class.
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Forgive and reframe: Sarah mentally said, “I forgive my teacher. I forgive myself. That moment no longer defines me.”
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Practice positive affirmations: “I am knowledgeable and prepared.”
Within two weeks, Sarah’s anxiety had reduced significantly, and she delivered her next presentation confidently.
🌸 How Ho’oponopono Changed Lives
Mike Wood emphasizes that Ho’oponopono isn’t just a spiritual practice—it’s a powerful psychological tool. Here’s how it works practically:
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Say the phrases mentally: “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”
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Use it while revisiting painful memories, like being bullied or feeling unworthy.
This simple yet profound practice dissolves the emotional attachment to the negative core beliefs. It’s like clearing clutter from the subconscious.
Quote from Mike Wood:
"Forgiveness is the key to unlock true freedom from anxiety. You don’t need to relive the pain—you need to reframe it with love."
🌟 Real-Life Success Stories
Beyond theory, Mike shares inspiring success stories:
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Emma’s Story – From Medication to Freedom:
Emma had been on anxiety medication since high school. After following the program for just 10 days, she began to reprogram her thoughts. She stopped medication and embraced self-love practices. Today, she thrives as an entrepreneur without fear of judgment. -
Jake the Athlete – Winning Against Anxiety:
A top-level wrestler felt paralyzed before matches. Mike introduced the concept of mentally bowing and repeating, “The essence of God in me is honored to be in the presence of the essence of God in you.” This practice disconnected ego from ego, reduced fear, and allowed Jake to perform better in competitions.
✨ Step-by-Step Practical Tools You Can Apply Today
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Gratitude Journaling Practice:
Each morning, write down three things you appreciate. This simple shift rewires your brain to focus on abundance rather than fear. -
Box Breathing Technique:
Use this anytime you feel anxious—whether in traffic, before a meeting, or during a stressful moment.-
Inhale for 4 seconds
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Hold breath for 4 seconds
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Exhale for 4 seconds
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Hold again for 4 seconds
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Reframing Negative Thoughts:
When you catch yourself thinking, “I’m not good enough,” pause and ask, “Where did this thought come from?” Replace it with, “I am learning, growing, and improving every day.” -
Chakra Centering:
In moments of intense anxiety, close your eyes and focus on the heart chakra. Visualize a warm, glowing light filling your chest and radiating love and compassion. -
Affirmations for Self-Love:
Repeat daily affirmations such as:-
“I am enough as I am.”
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“I am safe, loved, and capable.”
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🧘♂️ Spiritual Connection in Managing Anxiety
Mike emphasizes the power of surrendering the ego:
"When I center myself, open my heart chakra, and simply be present, wisdom flows through me to the person in need."
This is not just theory—it’s a daily practice of humility and learning. Instead of controlling the situation, Mike trusts the process. He doesn’t need to “fix” anyone. He simply listens, breathes, and lets the universal energy do the work.
🚀 Final Thoughts – Why This Matters for Everyone
Anxiety and overthinking are universal struggles. Whether you are an entrepreneur preparing for a big pitch, a parent overwhelmed by life’s responsibilities, or a student afraid of failing, these practices are not just for a select few—they are accessible to all.
Mike Wood’s approach offers a simple, compassionate path to reprogramming the subconscious mind. It’s not about suppressing anxiety but transforming it through self-awareness, self-love, forgiveness, and presence.
Conclusion
Anxiety doesn’t have to control your life. By separating yourself from your thoughts, practicing gratitude, using breathing techniques, and embracing forgiveness through the Ho’oponopono method, you can reclaim your peace of mind.
This deep and practical conversation between Neeti Keswani and Mike Wood shows that with small, consistent steps, profound transformation is possible.
🌟 About Neeti Keswani:
Neeti Keswani is the founder of Luxury Unplugged Podcast, an author, and a storytelling coach. She helps entrepreneurs and business leaders share their authentic stories, reprogram their mindsets, and overcome anxiety and negative core beliefs through practical tools and spiritual wisdom.
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