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

Emotions rise up from our core self, where we are both most vulnerable and powerful. When we can live from this core place inside of us, we can be authentic. When that happens, we are empowered to be our true selves.  Align your thoughts and feelings with your behavior, and you have a recipe for true success in your life. Step into your power in this episode.   

Infidelity is one of the most painful experiences you can have next to losing a child, at least according to one therapist I talked to. The pain that is created from the betrayal is inevitable, and much healing will be needed in the aftermath. I discuss the one sign you need to pay attention to most when you suspect cheating in your relationship. I also talk about working through and healing in the aftermath.

Emotional triggers are the surprises that we get when someone we love, or a situation, causes us to have a reaction that we haven't processed yet. If you were yelled at as a child, and you attached fear to being yelled at, then you might get triggered as an adult when someone around you as yelling.  Triggers are childhood beliefs that aren't necessarily true anymore, and need to be addressed to save your relationships. Once you release your old triggers, you can view the world from an entirely different place, instead of through the eyes of a fearful child. 

The deepest recesses of our subconscious mind are where our repressed, negative thoughts and emotions linger, causing harm to both our daily thought processes and our body! Want to know why thinking positively doesn’t seem to work sometimes? It’s because we’re holding on to some deeper stuff that needs released. And what happens when you release this stuff? Positive thinking comes naturally. No affirmations needed for today’s episode. Feel free to support the show by shopping on Amazon through this link:http://theoverwhelmedbrain.com/amazon

Presence is that state where the past doesn't exist, and the future hasn't been written. It's what's in the now. Eckhart Tolle and many other spiritual teachers talk about it. It's that place where past hurts and future worries seem to dissolve, so that you can experience what's really happening instead of the picture your mind is painting of reality.  It's clarity. And it's what we're here to talk about today. Episode sponsored by getoutofthemess.com. Quality attorneys ready to answer your questions

What is suffering? Is it the same as pain? Can they be separate, so that any suffering you experience can be diminished or eliminated altogether? Another deep episode where I share some practical steps you can take to stop suffering, and find your path to inner peace. I promise, I only mention meditation once. The rest of it, you may be surprised by.  Support the show if you'd like, by shopping at Amazon! You pay no more, and the show gets a small percentage of everything you purchase: http://theoverwhelmedbrain.com/amazon

The first decision that pops in your mind is what Malcolm Gladwell calls your "blink" moment. It's that feeling or thought you get before you consciously think about the situation.  Should you trust your blink moments? Are the true answers to life's challenges in those few milliseconds before conscious thought kicks in? And the real question, can you trust that blink moment, to the exclusion of rational thought?  This is a deep episode, but if you've been wanting to learn how to make better and faster decisions, it's time to make the decision and listen! Thank you for shopping through our Amazon link: theoverwhelmedbrain.com/amazon. It's a way to say Thank You for the show.

It's okay to be pessimistic, especially if months or years of optimism don't work. In this episode, we go over the underlying strategies or "programs" you have deep down that motivate you to move toward things you want and away from things you don't want. Wait, did I say it's okay to be pessimistic? Yup. When what you're doing doesn't work, do something else. Better yet, be "realistic" to create the most change in your life. When you figure out what motivates you in life, you'll figure out how to create the life you want.

Attaining happiness seems to be the pursuit of so many people. Those who look outside of themselves seem to find temporary means, but those who go inside reveal happiness, where it was all along.  I talk about that in this deep episode of clearing the obstacles to revealing the happiness inside.  Support this show by shopping at Amazon:  http://theoverwhelmedbrain.com/amazon

Irrational behavior is one of the most difficult behaviors to deal with. When someone is being irrational, they don't listen to reason, logic, or even common sense. They are laser focused to fulfill a need. And, until that need is fulfilled, or they snap out of it, they are unpredictable and sometimes even dangerous.  In this episode, we talk about some of the ways to communicate, and even "reel in" irrational people, to bring them back to a calmer, more rational state of being.  If you value the show, and would like to show your support, shop on Amazon through my link at theoverwhelmedbrain.com/amazon. Same prices, and a great way to say Thank You for the show.   

How is the masculine or feminine aspect of you running, or even ruining, your life? There's a purpose to having either and both especially when it comes to relating to other people, whether in friendships or intimate relationships. 

Building self-worth is something that happens in childhood, and relies on people and events outside of you, whereas building self-esteem is a culmination of all the years of self-worth, and is something that relies on how you feel about yourself.  Then ego comes in and tries to spoil the road to high self-esteem, but there are ways to build and nurture all three so that you can tackle life a lot easier when the challenges present themselves. 

Fear of embarrassment and going through humiliation set the stage for today's episode. There are steps you can take to avoid humiliating situations, and steps you can take to squash bad feelings after an embarrassing situation occurs. Even the embarrassing events of years past can pop up over and over again, especially when people you know keep rehashing it. If you want to stop reliving the past, or get over the shame, or even what you might consider the unforgivable stuff you may have done, this is the episode you don't want to miss.

We talk about letting go of the deeper, emotional attachments we have in our life in part 2 of a 2-part episode. From sentimental attachments, to people. The main focus in this episode is about the romantic relationships we can have trouble letting go of.  This is a deep and complex episode, and there are so many ways to approach this sensitive topic. But if you can get beyond the attachments that are holding you back and keeping you down, you will have a deeply fulfilling and happy life.

Attachments can be the distractions that keep us from working through the pain and emotional hurt that we carry through life. The more attachments you have, the more likely you are not looking inward to heal yourself of old negative emotions.  There's so much to talk about with this topic, so I broke it into two parts. Part 1 is about attachment to material objects. Next week, part 2 will be about deeper, emotional attachments to be material objects and everything else.  Feel like you're in a rut? Want the most powerful self-help advice you've ever heard? This is the episode you need. 

This week’s episode covers the very powerful topic of forgiveness. How powerful is it? Well, some people live with the pain of not forgiving someone their entire life. The thought of letting someone get away with something, or admitting that they are over something, or whatever, can override ones desire to move on and be happy with life. We’re going to talk about forgiveness today. What is it, really? Is it telling someone else, “You were right, and I was wrong”? Is it showing another person that what they did was forgivable? Is it something else entirely? Let's find out what it is and if it possible.

I talk about 9 common defense mechanisms we employ in our lives. Most are used as a substitute for full expression of our thoughts and feelings, however some are actually useful.  You may do 1 or 2, or all 9! Regardless, by the time the episode is over, you will understand what they are and what you can do if you find yourself or others doing them. 

You have the strength and resources you need to create the balance that you deserve in your life. But there is a way to achieving balance that many people aren't aware of. Well, 6 ways in this episode to be exact.  Balance creates more consistent states of happiness, and also allows you to make decisions and take action from a place of power, not fear.  In this episode, we dive into some deeper-level stuff that you may not necessarily have associated with balance. But by the end, you might discover something about yourself that helps you resolve some of the challenges in your life. 

Can you accept the behaviors of those you love? If not, are you still in the relationship? You have a choice to walk away from the behaviors you can't accept in life, or stay and accept them. In the end, what you really want is closure. Knowing the direction you need to take is a much more powerful place than waiting for something to happen. Lingering is no fun.  By the time this episode is over, you’ll know if you’ve reached full acceptance of the people in your life, and if you are choosing to suffer or not. Yes, suffering can be a choice. When it comes to accepting what is, or not accepting, one choice leads to suffering, the other does not.