What’s taking up space in your mind right now?
No, really. If your thoughts were tenants, who’s paying rent—and who’s squatting in the corner, draining your energy and refusing to leave?
It’s easy to overlook what we’re carrying. We power through the day, responding to emails, solving problems, supporting everyone else. And somewhere in the background, a script is running. Maybe it’s a mistake we made last week. A conversation we’re rehearsing that hasn’t even happened. A voice telling us we’re not enough, or that if we slow down, everything will fall apart.
So many of those scripts don’t belong to us. They’re old. Uninvited. Unchecked. And yet they take up valuable mental space—sometimes for years.
That’s when I started thinking about real estate. Not the kind with a roof and walls, but the emotional, mental space we live in every day.
The Mind Is Prime Real Estate
Your mind only has so much square footage. It’s a finite space. And what you fill it with matters.
Some of it is beautifully decorated: memories that lift you up, core values, creativity, problem-solving skills, and daydreams about the future. That’s the part of your mind that inspires you, supports you, and reminds you who you are when the world gets loud.
But if you’re like most people, there are rooms you haven’t stepped into in years. Rooms filled with outdated beliefs, regrets, fears, and other people’s expectations. Maybe you’ve been subletting space to your inner critic. Maybe anxiety moved in and rearranged the furniture.
And suddenly you’re living in a cluttered, over-occupied space that doesn’t feel like yours anymore.
This is exactly where my Ctrl-Alt-Delete framework comes in.
It’s inspired by the classic keyboard reset and helps you do exactly what it sounds like: regain control, shift your perspective, and remove what no longer serves you.
Let’s break it down.
Control: Who Has the Keys to Your Mental Space?
The first step is noticing.
So many of us are running on autopilot, unaware of what’s been quietly playing behind the scenes, maybe it’s an old story. Something someone said to you years ago that still echoes in quiet moments, maybe it’s a critical script you didn’t even realize you memorized.
This is about becoming aware of who and what is occupying your mental real estate.
Ask yourself:
- Is this thought helping me or harming me?
- Would I say this to someone I love?
- Am I choosing this script, or is it choosing me?
Taking control doesn’t mean never having a negative thought. It means recognizing which narratives are worth your attention and which ones are just noise.
Alt: Shift Your Perspective
Sometimes we don’t need to tear it all down. We just need to look at it differently.
This is the “Alt” in Ctrl-Alt-Delete. It’s about choosing an alternate view.
A script like “I always mess this up” can become “I’m still learning, and this mistake taught me something.”
“I’m so behind” becomes “I’m moving at my own pace, and that’s okay.”
This isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about being honest with yourself and choosing a kinder lens.
When you shift your mental perspective, you start to reclaim space from fear, comparison, and perfectionism. You make room for clarity, self-respect, and growth.
Delete: Letting Go of the Old Script
Old scripts tend to keep running until we actively stop them.
We feed the same mental dialogue even when we know it’s not helping, we review it, rehearse it, try to rewrite the ending. But what if the answer isn’t revision? What if it’s release?
Let me be clear: delete doesn’t mean ignore. It means choosing not to carry what doesn’t serve you anymore.
Delete the belief that you have to earn your worth;
Delete the voice that tells you you’re behind;
Delete the idea that everything will fall apart unless you hold it all together.
Some scripts are like spam emails. They look urgent and grab your attention. But you get to decide whether to open them or send them straight to trash.
A Real-Life Example: The Script That Wouldn’t Shut Off
A few months ago, I was invited to a women’s networking event. I was excited about the people and the purpose, but when it came to what to wear, I hesitated, the invite didn’t specify a dress code, and I didn’t have time to overthink it. So I threw on what felt like me: jeans, a nice blazer, and a simple top.
The second I walked into the venue, I felt it.
Everyone else looked fancy. Cocktail dresses. Heels. Accessories I didn’t even know how to pronounce.
And just like that, the script started running.
You’re underdressed.
You didn’t try hard enough.
You don’t belong here.
It was loud. And it was fast. That voice that says, You got it wrong. Everyone else got the memo. You’re the one who didn’t measure up.
I felt myself pulling back—shrinking, scanning the room, trying to blend in. But I paused. And I reminded myself that this was exactly the moment Ctrl-Alt-Delete was made for.
CONTROL, ALT, DELETE
Control: I named it. The script wasn’t really about my jeans. It was about old fears of standing out in the “wrong” way. About wanting to be accepted. About not wanting to make others uncomfortable by being different.
Alt: I shifted my perspective. I reminded myself why I came—to connect, to listen, to learn. I wasn’t there to win a fashion contest. And honestly, I looked like me.
Delete: I let the voice go. I chose not to let it narrate the rest of my night.
And here’s the best part. Toward the end of the night, a woman I had spoken to earlier came over and said, “I wish I wore jeans. I just didn’t know we were allowed to.”
That one sentence stuck with me.
“I didn’t know we were allowed to.”
So many of us are walking around waiting for permission—to be casual, to be real, to be ourselves. But we don’t actually need it.
That night reminded me that confidence isn’t about blending in. It’s about showing up as yourself, even when it feels a little risky. And the more we do that, the more we give others permission to do the same.
Taking It Home: A Mental Reset You Can Use Today
Want to try this?
Pick one thought or belief that’s been taking up space. Something that keeps repeating. Something that weighs you down. Then run it through Ctrl-Alt-Delete.
- Control: Name the script. Where did it come from? Is it helpful?
- Alt: What else might be true? What would someone who loves you say?
- Delete: Imagine releasing it. Say it out loud. Write it down and throw it away. Do whatever makes it real.
This isn’t a one-time cleanout. It’s a practice. Just like we tidy our homes, we can tidy our minds.
You don’t have to live with outdated scripts that weren’t written for the person you are now;
You don’t have to host thoughts that no longer serve you;
You get to decide what stays.
Because your mind is your most valuable real estate.
Make sure the tenants and the stories are worthy of the space.
