The Contact Lens Conundrum: A Lesson in Mindset (and a Little Laughter)

adaptable leadership conscious leadership emotional endurance heather mcgonigal leadership skills mindful leadership

"The energy we bring to a task directly influences our ability to accomplish it." - Empowering Leadership Teams - Woman placing a contact lens in her eye.

"Pausing to laugh at our negative self-talk can be the first step towards a powerful mindset shift."

Recently, I found myself in a frustrating situation that turned into an unexpected lesson in mindset mastery. As a coach, I'm always looking for teachable moments, and this one happened right in my own bathroom mirror.

It was late, and I was exhausted. As a newbie to wearing contact lenses, I was already feeling a little unsure about the removal process. One lens came out easily, but the other seemed determined to stay put. As I struggled, I noticed my self-talk turning increasingly harsh. I was berating myself, questioning my competence over something as seemingly simple as removing a contact lens.

But then, something shifted.

I paused for a moment and really listened to what I was saying to myself. It was absurd. Dramatic, even. And I laughed. I mean really laughed. It was ridiculous how quickly I had gone from grounded, capable coach to someone convinced she was failing at life... because of a contact lens.

That laughter was medicine. At that moment, I interrupted the spiral and found my way back to center.

I looked in the mirror and said, “Hey, you’ve got this. This is nothing in the grand scheme of life. You’ve lived through hard things. You’ve handled real challenges. And this? This is just an annoying speck in your eye.”

With that shift, everything changed. My energy softened. I breathed. I tried again, gently this time, and out came the lens. My evening routine continued, now with a little more kindness toward myself and a lot more compassion for the part of me that had gotten so spun up.

This whole moment reinforced something I know to be true. Our mindset and self-talk shape how we experience challenges, whether it's big or small.

When your inner monologue turns cruel, everything feels harder. But when you pause, notice the tone of your thoughts, and create even a tiny bit of space—maybe with a smile or a laugh—you change your energy. You reconnect to your strength.

And honestly, it helps to have a sense of humor about this thing called life.

I was listening to a Jay Shetty podcast recently where he suggested giving your inner critic a name. Something playful that matches the voice. So now, when my inner perfectionist shows up full of dramatic declarations, I might just say, “Okay Brenda, thanks for your opinion,” and carry on.

It’s silly, and that’s the point. The moment we can laugh, even just a little, we interrupt the intensity. We stop taking the voice in our heads as absolute truth. We make room for kindness and creativity to come back online.

So the next time you’re caught in frustration or doubting your ability, try this:

Pause and notice your self-talk. What are you saying to yourself, and would you say it to someone you care about?
Interrupt it with humor. Maybe laugh at how dramatic it sounds. Maybe give your inner critic a name like Brenda. Lighten the moment, even just a little.
Remember who you are. Call in evidence of your strength and resilience. You’ve made it through far worse.
Reframe. Shift your perspective to something more grounded, empowering, and true. 
Life is full of challenges. Don’t forget to add in the fun where you can. A moment of laughter is medicine for the soul. And sometimes, the most healing thing we can do is to be kind enough to not take ourselves so seriously.

You are remarkable just the way you are. And yes, you have everything you need to handle life’s tough moments, even the tiny, stubborn ones stuck in your eye.

Cheering You On,
Coach Heather