Blog
You Are Not Your Emotions—You Trained Them
In this blog post, I want to dive into a question that doesn’t get asked nearly enough: Why are emotions trained?
Most of us grow up thinking emotions just happen to us. Like, you’re either happy or you’re not. You’re either calm or you’re not. That’s it, right?
But what if that’s not the whole picture?
What if emotions—just like strength, endurance, or flexibility—are actually trainable?
And what if learning to train them could totally shift how you handle stress, how you show up in r…
Toughness Isn’t What You Think
Most people think they’re emotionally strong because they can power through. But pushing through isn’t strength. It’s just survival with a different name.
Today I want to talk about something I hear a lot—especially from people who are physically fit, mentally sharp, and disciplined in many areas of life. They’ll say things like, “I’m tough. I don’t let things get to me. I just keep going.” But when we actually look under the hood, what’s driving that behavior…isn’t emotional resilience. It…
What Learned Helplessness Actually Feels Like
You’ve done the work. You’ve read the books. You’ve tried the journaling, the breathwork, the tough conversations.
And yet…something still feels stuck.
There’s a quiet frustration underneath. A dull belief that maybe change just isn’t possible for you. It’s not loud. It doesn’t collapse everything. But it lingers—like a background hum of “what’s the point?”
Here’s the thing:
That feeling isn’t who you are. It’s not proof that you’re broken or lazy or unmotivated.
It’s a trained emotional …
The Problem Isn’t Attachment. It’s What You’re Reinforcing
You’ve probably been told that letting go is the answer. That freedom comes from detachment. But what if the very act of trying to “let go” is what’s keeping you stuck?
This post is for anyone who’s tried to loosen their grip—on a relationship, a goal, a version of themselves—and still felt reactive, anxious, or uncertain underneath. You’re not doing it wrong. Most approaches to “letting go” are still rooted in fear. And that fear becomes the thing we’re actually practicing, over and over…
Presence Isn’t Quiet. It’s Awake, Aware, and Intentional.
Many people turn to meditation, yoga, or tai chi as a way to train presence. And it works—at least on some level. These practices help the nervous system settle, slow down, and feel more steady. But there’s a catch most don’t see coming.
Presence often gets mistaken for stillness. Regulation becomes synonymous with quiet. And the nervous system, ever adaptive, learns to associate presence with silence. The result? You feel regulated when it’s calm, but as soon as life speeds up, the steadines…
Why You Pull Back When Life Finally Feels Good
Ever notice that subtle tension—not when things are falling apart, but right when they finally start falling into place?
You get the text. The green light. The door that was always shut finally cracks open… and instead of relaxing into it, you tense. You hesitate. You brace—like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Most people miss this moment. But it’s one of the clearest signs that your system isn’t wired for ease—it’s trained for survival.
Bracing Isn’t Always About Fear
We u…
Social Media Isn’t The Problem
If you’ve ever felt torn between quitting social media or sticking it out, you’re not alone. That tension isn’t just about the platforms themselves—it’s about the emotional pattern you’re reinforcing every time you interact with them.
These Platforms Are Not Neutral
Let’s be honest—most social platforms are engineered to be addictive. They use color, rhythm, timing, and psychology to hook your attention. Not out of malice, but because your attention is their business model.
If yo…
Are You Using Comfort to Recharge…or to Retreat?
What if comfort isn’t helping you feel better — it’s just keeping you emotionally stuck? Is the comfort you're choosing actually restoring you—or quietly reinforcing the same emotional pattern?
If you’re someone who’s done the work—you’ve hit goals, stayed disciplined, pushed yourself—you already know effort isn’t the hard part. The hard part is this: Knowing when comfort is actually supporting your growth—and when it’s no longer supportive, but quietly training you to stay the same.
That’s …
My Routine Runs Me (Stacking Conditions)
Today I want to talk about a subtle pattern that can show up even in the most disciplined, high-functioning people—
Especially those who value routines, structure, and intentional living.
It’s the habit of stacking conditions.
Not as a support to your state…
But as a requirement for it.
And when that line gets blurry—your training starts to work against you.
What It Means to Stack Conditions
Let’s define it clearly:
Stacking conditions means relying on a long list of external…
You Can’t Choose to Leave Until You’ve Trained Yourself to Stay
You can only know if your freedom is real when you’ve trained the ability to stay—and then consciously choose to go.
Otherwise, you’re just reacting. Not creating.
There’s a kind of freedom that’s earned—through presence, clarity, and calm.
And there’s a kind that’s rehearsed—through fear, disconnection, and needing distance.
Most people don’t know which one they’re living.
Reactive Freedom Feels Like Relief, But Trains Avoidance
What most people call “freedom” is actually just escape.…