Meet BLAH™
Understanding The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Most people think anxiety begins with fear. Often, it begins much earlier. It begins with stories. Stories repeated so often that they quietly become accepted as facts.
- Beliefs
- Lies
- Assumptions
- Habits
What Is BLAH™
The Internal Storyteller
For years, I noticed people saying things such as: “I know I’m overthinking.” “I know it probably isn’t true.”
Yet the thoughts still felt completely believable. So, they were believed.
The problem was not always reality itself.
It was the internal storyteller that had become so familiar it sounded like truth. That storyteller became known as BLAH™.
The name is deliberately gentle and familiar, Blah, Blah, Blah. The aim is not to become frightened of our own minds, but to become curious about what they are telling us.
B — Beliefs
L — Lies
A — Assumptions
H — Habits
Beliefs
BBB
The Things We Have Learned to Accept as True
Beliefs are the foundations upon which we build our understanding of the world. Some beliefs help us:
“People can recover.”
“Mistakes help me learn.”
“I can ask for help.”
“I am worthy of kindness.”
Others quietly limit us:
“I’m not good enough.”
“People will reject me.”
“I must never make mistakes.”
“I always have to stay in control.”
The difficulty is that over time we can stop recognising a belief as a belief. It simply starts feeling like the truth. Yet many beliefs were created years ago from childhood experiences, criticism, embarrassment, relationships or something we heard repeatedly. Familiar does not necessarily mean true.
Is this belief helping me?
Lies
When Protection Starts Sounding Like Truth
“Lies” does not mean your mind is deliberately trying to deceive you. Your brain is trying to protect you. The problem is that protection naturally focuses on what might go wrong. So the anxious mind: Exaggerates. Predicts. Catastrophises.
It might tell you:
“You’ll never cope.”
“Everybody is judging you.”
“You’ll definitely panic.”
“One mistake will ruin everything.”
Notice the certainty. Always. Never. Everyone. Everything. Definitely.
BLAH™ loves absolute language.
Reality is usually much more balanced:
Sometimes. Perhaps. Occasionally. It’s possible. Let’s find out.
Assumptions
Assumptions
Filling in the Gaps Without the Evidence
BLAH™ is very good at taking a small piece of information and completing the story for us. A friend hasn’t replied:
“They’re annoyed with me.”
“I’ve upset them.”
“They’re avoiding me.”
Someone looks serious:
“They don’t like me.”
A manager asks for a quick chat:
“I’ve done something wrong.”
“I’m in trouble.”
The fact may be very simple. The frightening story comes afterwards. BLAH™ fills in the gaps — usually with the worst possible explanation. Wisdom waits for evidence.
A useful question here is: “Is there another explanation?”
Curiosity widens the picture. BLAH™ narrows it.
Habits
When a Pattern Becomes Automatic
Thoughts can become habits. The more often we think, react or behave in a particular way, the more familiar that response becomes. Over time, repeated thoughts and behaviours can begin to feel automatic — like a well-used path that the brain naturally follows. That does not mean the pattern is permanent.
New responses can also be practised. A pause before reacting. A kinder response to yourself.
Questioning one BLAH™ thought.
Choosing curiosity instead of criticism.
Small actions repeated consistently can gradually create healthier patterns.
Your first thought may come from habit.
Your next response can come from wisdom.
An Example
BLAH™ In Real Life
BLAH says:
“They’re annoyed with me.”
“Everyone thinks I’m incompetent.”
“Something is seriously wrong.”
“They don’t like me.”
A wiser response:
“There may be another explanation.”
“One mistake doesn’t define me.”
“A feeling does not automatically mean danger.”
“I don’t actually know what they’re thinking.”
You Don’t Have To Silence BLAH™
You Don't Have To Silence BLAH™
Recognising the Voice Changes the Relationship
BLAH™ is not an enemy. It is not something to fear. It is the collection of beliefs, lies, assumptions and habits that can quietly influence the stories we tell ourselves.
Thoughts are not automatically facts. Familiar stories can feel true simply because we have heard them so many times. The goal is not to silence every thought or win every argument with your mind.
It is to begin recognising BLAH™ with curiosity and compassion.
BLAH™ gets a voice.
It doesn’t get the final decision.
Ready To Understand More?
Ready To Understand More?
Now that you can begin recognising BLAH™, the next step is learning more about anxiety, why it happens and how the mind and body respond.
Ready To Understand More?
Ready To Understand More?
Now that you can begin recognising BLAH™, the next step is learning more about anxiety, why it happens and how the mind and body respond.
Featured Resources
Understanding Anxiety
Our flagship publication helping people understand anxiety with compassion rather than fear.
Mental Health Library
Educational articles covering anxiety, confidence, emotional wellbeing, resilience and everyday mental health.
You Don't Need All the Answers Today
You only need the willingness to take one gentle step.