As others have said, it's all in your head.
Things that worked for me:
Embrace it - this is bringing your baby to you. I had a litle 'chant' going in my head "I welcome the contraction. It bings my baby closer". Surrender is a big part of the process - when you fight it you make it take longer and you make it harder. And sometimes that means embracing the pain - I remember in my first labour i sat on the toilet at one point and the cnotractions were so much more painful. IN fact, the pain I felt (I realised later) was my cervix opening more quickly. But I didn't like it and got up. Later, I realised I should have stayed there - it would have been so much quicker if I'd not been afraid and embraced that extra pain.

Open yourself - keep your mouth and lips loose. Imagine that your cervix is opening.

Be comfortable - you need to feel completely safe and at ease so you can do whatever feels right for you without inihibition. My last labour I found leaning over and swaying felt good. And I vocalise through the contractions - a big breath in and a low, aaah/ooo type noise on the outbreath (making it as long as possible).

Surround yourself with people who believe - nobody in your birthing space should doubt your ability to labour and birth.

Breathe - you, your uterus and your baby all need that oxygen.