When was the last time you freaked out? Maybe you spotted a snake or shattered your favorite dish. Can you recall a moment when everything felt out of control–your reactions, your words, even your heartbeat? Maybe you broke into a sweat or found yourself in tears.
Navigating narrow streets
My moment happened not long ago. We were driving through the narrow streets of a hill city in Italy. I’d told the person meeting us that we were just ten minutes away, according to GPS. But as soon as wen entered the city, Apple Maps failed us. We didn’t know where to go and accidentally drove the wrong way down a one-way street. Forty-five minutes later, we were no closer to our destination–though we were only a few hundred meters away. By then, I was sweating, my eyes brimming with tears, and everything felt completely out of control.
For me, the underlying belief behind any freak-out moment is this: I am not going to be okay. My predominant feeling is fear. My thoughts become irrational, my words unfiltered. I spiral into harsh self-talk: I’m failing. I must be stupid because I can’t figure this out. Fatalist thinking creeps in too: We will never make it. Things always go wrong.
After this particular meltdown, I experienced what I can only call an emotional hangover. Embarrassment took center stage. Regret piled on telling me I should have handled things better. The inner critic kept swinging: What kind of person gets so worked up. The remorse immobilized me. I wanted to hide, to avoid anyone connected to the situation. I hated the freak-out moment, but I hated the aftermath even more.
From meltdown to mindset shift
Slowly, I started to breathe and be kind to myself. I worked to accept the situation exactly as it happened, but I was determined to drive and navigate on the narrow streets again–not to punish myself, but to reclaim a sense of victory over the fear. Then, I dug deeper, asking why my reaction had been so strong. The answer was clear: I needed to strengthen my belief that I will be okay, no matter what challenges come my way. That belief, for me, is deeply rooted in knowing I am infinitely loved.
I’d like to say I’ll never have another freak-out moment, but that wouldn’t be honest. What I can do is minimize them with self-care, faith, and practicing healthier mindsets. Life will still throw curveballs, but I can prepare myself to respond differently. And when I do slip, I’ll remember something a friend once told me: You can’t possibly do it wrong. Even the messy moments are teachers–sometimes, the best ones.
That’s so true, thank you for sharing!