The Overwhelmed Brain | Stress | Anxiety | Relationship | Critical Thinking | Emotional Intelligence | Emotional Abuse

Expressing the deep, negative emotions that you've been holding onto from your past should lead to a release of the emotional energy behind them, and free you from the burden of holding onto the pain. However, sometimes what you express, vent or release isn't all of it, and you need to dig a little deeper to get to the real pain that's keeping you from moving on.  Today we talk about how to get to that deeper pain. 

I hate setting goals, so I had to figure out how I could get what I want in life without following the standard goal-setting steps we're always taught. Just writing down a goal makes me cringe, but why? Well, I'm not very highly organized and full of energy, so I think that's half of it. Today I share how to set goals when you hate setting goals. It's a slap in the face to typical goal-setting advice, but that's what typically happens on this show anyway.

Unfortunately, the more we grow and evolve, the more others who aren't ready to do the same will want us to stay the same. If you're around friends and family who just can't seem to get on board with you getting healthier, what do you do? Do you just pretend to be the same old person you always were around them just to keep them happy? Or do you embrace this new you and leave it up to them to get used to the new you? Important questions, especially since we all know at least one person that probably doesn't support our evolution. Is there an easy path where everyone can get along magically? Nope. But there is a path, and that's what I'll be talking about today. Today's special mention: If you shop on Amazon, it supports the show! Simply drag the Amazon button to the right to your computer's desktop, then use it every time you shop. Doing so, Amazon sends a small percentage of every purchase to help support the show. 

With so many paths to a destination that seems impossible to reach, it's hard to believe we can ever get there at all! I'm referring to peace, of course. Attaining a peaceful mind during a chaotic moment can be an exercise in futility, but is there any reason you can't attain peace between the chaotic moments in life? I think we think too much between those moments, and it's time to access a less stressful space so that we can at least connect with ourselves before the next big crisis hits. Time to learn some simple realizations of a peaceful mind so that we can let go of stress once in a while

I tackle the question on finding purpose and meaning in life when you aren't experiencing joy and happiness. Inspired by a message from a listener who is in a pretty dark place. He asked, "What's the point?" There is purpose in life, and it's found in every moment.

When so many spiritual teachers and personal growth gurus are telling us to let go of our egos, I come along and tell you to build it up! I don't disagree that letting go of ego is a fantastic place to be, but after having experienced it for a few months, I was ready to regain my ego and rebuild it in a way that served me and others around me best.  It's time to visit the ego and figure out how to build and evolve it so that it releases our fears, insecurities and anxieties. Who knows, maybe you just need to inflate your ego a bit to create the peace and ease you want in your life! Today's special mention: . It's a book that's been called a “proven path to discovering what you were meant to do.” It's free - ! 

Relationships end, unfortunately. But sometimes what you think is the hardest part (the breakup) turns out to be tame compared to what follows. Your ex may not want it to end so they do things that make you uncomfortable. Or, the one you "dumped" is still friends with your friends and family, so the ties are harder to break and the distance harder to attain. What do you do when this kind of stuff happens? I address a couple of emails asking these very questions on today's episode.  Today's episode is brought to you by getoutofthemess.com. Quality attorneys for about $20 a month!

Do you trust your instincts? If not, why not? Let's get practical and talk about where they come from and why we have them. Instincts are here to protect us, but sometimes we don't listen. It's time to start trusting a part of us that knows more than we "think".  Sponsor: www.fulldisclosurefitness.com

Amy Morin, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, wrote the book . After a few devastating events in her life, she made the list in hopes to help herself heal. After publishing it as a blog article, it went viral. And soon, millions learned the 13 things that they might be doing to prevent them from becoming mentally stronger.

Your job can be a career you love, or one that you can't wait to change. Either way, Scott Barlow, Career Coach and Job Transition Expert talks to us about some of the steps you can take to start moving in another direction with your career.  Visit Scott at happentoyourcareer.com/brain and sign up for the 8 day free course that helps you discover what you want in a career. 

If the voices in your head are saying anything but positive messages to you, then this is the show for you. Negative inner dialogue can prevent you from almost everything you want to do in life. So many opportunities will be missed, all because you listened to a voice that is likely misleading you to believing you are something less than you are. It's time to switch around those inner voices so that they support you, and maybe even make you laugh. Sponsor: 

When you have negative thoughts and emotions floating around in your head more times than not, the choices you make going forward in life are going to be influenced. After all, whatever is swimming around in your head at the time of a decision is what typically affects your decision. If you are carrying around old baggage, it's time to drop those emotional bags off so that you can create your future without fears or worry. 

Practicing mindfulness has a lot of advantages that will help you become more alert, more focused, and more likely to finish what you started. I focus a lot on "focus" in this particular episode because we are simply an oversaturated, overstimulated society, and might need a refresher on what it takes to be truly mindful. The more mindful you are, the more successful you'll be with almost anything you start - mainly because you'll finish! Brought to you by 

Part 2 of a two-part episode where we talk about the 10 life lessons that, if implemented, lead to peace and fulfillment. So many of us simply live day to day, trying to make the next day as good as the last, or better. The day to day can be fulfilling, or it can be grueling. If it's the latter, it's possible that there is a primal need at your deepest level not getting fulfilled. If that's the case, it will be harder to attain the peace and balance you may be looking for. This episode covers the second 5 of the lessons, and helps you understand what you may need to focus on to create a happier life for yourself.

Part 1 of a two-part episode where we talk about the 10 life lessons that, if implemented, lead to peace and fulfillment. So many of us simply live day to day, trying to make the next day as good as the last, or better. The day to day can be fulfilling, or it can be grueling. If it's the latter, it's possible that there is a primal need at your deepest level not getting fulfilled. If that's the case, it will be harder to attain the peace and balance you may be looking for. This episode covers the first 5 of the lessons, and helps you understand what you may need to focus on to create a happier life for yourself. http://theoverwhelmedbrain.com/books/

There's a program running in the background of your mind that drives almost all of your behavior, and that's called your "philosophy". Your philosophy is made up of all the beliefs and assumptions that you have about the world. Many of these beliefs and assumptions are never questioned, just followed - sometimes blindly. We dive into the philosophy that drives our decisions and actions in this episode. It might require your thinking cap, but it could be the door you were looking for to help you create and accept the changes you want to make in your life. theoverwhelmedbrain.com/books

Judgment can be one of the most damaging weapons in a relationship, as it tells the other person that it's not okay to be themselves. This builds resentment in them, and will eventually crumble even the most intimate relationships. If it doesn't crumble, then it suffers. Today's episode is how our triggers form our judgments, and how our judgments can ruin our life if we don't learn what to do with them.Get Clear The Path To Happiness on Amazon now! Free with Amazon Prime

Have you ever known something to be true, only to find out you were completely wrong? I've had arguments with people where half-way through I figured out I was wrong, but I still held my ground because of my commitment to winning. It's time to learn how to create and keep an open mind so that you are flexible in all of life's challenges.  "Knowing" something limits what more you can know, but admitting that you don't know everything opens the the door to endless possibilities. Sounds like a great topic for discussion!

What does it take to honor your boundaries and live from that authentic place inside you? Do you earn the respect your deserve? You might be surprised to find out that respect from others happens naturally when you honor yourself and your personal boundaries. Doing this shows the world who you really are, and what behavior is okay, and what is not.  You are worthy and deserve respect. Honor and respect yourself, and you'll soon find that you are creating the life you want. If you'd like to support the show, just shop at Amazon using this link: http://theoverwhelmedbrain.com/amazon

There are true victims in the world, then there are chronic complainers who keep themselves in a victimized state, closing the door to progress, healing and growth.  It could have started in childhood, or sprung up when they were older, but those who have a victim mentality know one thing for sure: Nothing ever works out for them.  This belief system keeps them in a rut, and prevents them from seeing options that could be right in front of them.  Are you a self-perpetuating victim? Listen in and find out!