Grappling In Thought

You didn’t just wake up one day and start hiding parts of yourself… you learned to. In this episode, we break down why we wear masks and put up armor—and what’s actually underneath it. Most of the time, we’re not hiding nothing… we’re hiding vulnerability. The parts of us we’re unsure about, not confident in, or afraid others will judge. But here’s the shift: when you stop trying to hide those par...

What if the reason things feel off in your life… isn’t because something’s wrong—but because you’re not actually being you? In this episode, we start breaking down one of the biggest questions you’ll ever ask: Who am I? A lot of us don’t realize it, but we slowly learn to wear masks—trying to fit in, make people happy, and avoid rejection. Over time, we lose track of what’s actually us… and what’s...

For a long time, I thought I had to be a certain way to be loved—people-pleasing, over-explaining, trying to make everyone happy. In this episode, I talk about where that belief comes from, how it shows up, and how to start letting go of it. You don’t have to earn love. You’re already worthy of it...just as you are.

How do you actually become your own best friend… every single day? Not just when things are going well — but when you’re triggered, frustrated, or struggling. In this third part of the Becoming Your Own Best Friend series, we go deeper into: • What you actually have control over (and what you don’t) • Why understanding yourself changes everything • How becoming your own friend makes relationships...

How do you talk to yourself? If you treated a friend the way you treat yourself… would they still be your friend? In Part 2 of the Becoming Your Own Best Friend series, we go deeper into: • What being your own friend actually looks like • Why we’re so hard on ourselves • How to be honest without being mean • How to reframe negative self-talk • The power of curiosity instead of criticism • Simple w...

Why are we so hard on ourselves? That voice in your head that says "I'm so stupid." "What's wrong with me?" "Why did I do that?" We all have it. But what most people don't realize is that there's another voice inside us too — a quieter one. The voice that supports us, encourages us, and actually has our back. In this episode, we talk about: • The two v...

Reflection isn’t about beating yourself up or replaying your mistakes over and over again. It’s about understanding yourself. In this episode, I share exactly how I practice what I call Strategic Remembering — a simple reflection practice that helps you understand your reactions, your triggers, and how you want to show up next time. Instead of blaming the situation or the other person, this proces...

You’re already reflecting. You just might be doing it in a way that leaves you with shame instead of clarity. In this episode, I talk about something I call Strategic Remembering — the shift from replaying situations to understanding yourself within them. If you’ve ever left a conversation thinking, “Why did I say that?” or “Why didn’t I say something?” — this is for you. Show Notes: The differenc...

Ever hit momentum… and then suddenly feel unmotivated, annoyed, and just off? That’s where I’ve been this week. Nothing went wrong. In fact, things were building. But with momentum came a clear view of the gap between where I am and where I want to be — and that gap hit harder than I expected. In this episode, I’m walking you through what a real “funk” looks like, how I almost spiraled, and the ex...

In this episode, we go deeper into a quieter form of comparison — the kind that shows up as people-pleasing, holding back, and editing yourself just to fit in. Have you ever felt exhausted because you just want to be you… but you’re not fully being you? We talk about: Why comparison makes us shrink How people-pleasing is connected to fear of rejection The real cost of being liked for someone you’r...

Comparison doesn’t usually mean we actually want someone else’s life. More often, it means we wish something felt easier for us. In Part 2 of the Comparison series, we look at three everyday situations where comparison sneaks in and how to step out of the comparison trap without turning on yourself. In this episode, I talk about: Why things can look easy for others and hard for us Timeline compari...

Have you ever been scrolling and suddenly felt your mood drop — like you’re behind or not enough? In Part 1 of the Comparison series, we’re talking about social media comparison — how it sneaks in quietly, why it affects us so deeply, and why there’s nothing wrong with you when it happens. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why comparison isn’t always loud or obvious How social media overwhelms our br...

Even when we’re doing the work — pausing, noticing, trying to respond differently — we still react sometimes. We snap. We shut down. We say something we don’t mean. And when that happens, it’s easy to think the moment is ruined or that all the progress we’ve made doesn’t count anymore. In this episode, we talk about what comes after a reaction — how reacting isn’t failure, but a signal that someth...

Catching yourself and pausing is important — but for a lot of us, that’s not the hardest part. The hardest part is what comes after the pause. When you’re still activated and you have to say something… or decide what to do next. In this episode, we talk about what responding actually looks like in real life — when you’re still feeling the tension in your body and the urge to either explode or disa...

You know that moment when something happens and your heart starts racing, your chest tightens, or your throat closes up — and before you know it, your mind is already spinning? In this episode, we’re slowing down and focusing on that exact moment — the space between what you feel in your body and the thoughts that rush in to explain it. Our nervous system responds first. The body feels it first. A...

Why do you react before you even have time to think? Maybe you snapped, shut down, froze, or sent a text you immediately regretted. Maybe you snapped, shut down, froze, or sent a text you immediately regretted. And then later you wondered, Why did I do that? In Part 1 of the Reacting vs Responding series, we’re breaking down why reacting happens in the first place — and why it’s not a personal fla...

We all have moments where we’re doing something we don’t want to do — chores, homework, practice, family obligations, waiting, working out, or showing up when we’d rather stay home. And when that happens, it’s easy to get tunnel vision and stay stuck in “I don’t want to be here.” The more we focus on how much we hate it, the worse it feels. In Part 3 of the Flexible Thinking series, we talk about...

That moment when your gut drops, your chest tightens, and your mind starts racing...that’s the moment we’re talking about today. When life shifts unexpectedly, your emotional brain reacts fast, grabs the first story it can, and often turns that story against you. In Part 2 of the Flexible Thinking series, we focus on what to do in the moment, before overthinking, spiraling, and self-blame take ove...

When plans change or life hits out of nowhere, our brain jumps straight into meltdown mode. Why? Because the emotional brain fires first and grabs the quickest explanation it can find — usually the worst one. That’s why you spiral, overthink, and get stuck on a single story that feels way heavier than it is. In today’s short episode, we break down what actually happens in your mind the moment unce...

You know those behaviors you do that frustrate you, the ones that make you turn against yourself? Shutting down. People pleasing. Overreacting. Pulling away. Assuming the worst. Freaking out before thinking. Taking things the wrong way. Overthinking. Over-apologizing. We all have patterns that feel embarrassing or confusing, and the moment they show up, we start the “Why am I like this?” spiral. B...

Ever have a random thought pop in and instantly turn against yourself? That’s not weakness — that’s your brain firing off signals you didn’t choose. The problem isn’t the thought… it’s the fight with the thought. And that judgment, shame, and “What’s wrong with me?” spiral is exactly what makes it louder. In Part 2 of the Acceptance Series, we talk about what to do with the thoughts you judge, hid...

Ever had one tiny thing go wrong and suddenly your whole body goes into meltdown mode? That’s not you “being dramatic.” That’s your brain’s panic switch flipping on — and most of the time, it’s not the situation that overwhelms you… it’s the fight with your own reaction. In Part 1 of the Acceptance Series, we break down why resisting your emotions makes everything louder, what really fuels the spi...

You know that feeling when someone says something, they move on with their day… and you’re still replaying it hours later? Even when you know the comment doesn’t matter or wasn’t even about you — it can still be hard to stop thinking about it. This episode is all about getting unstuck. I break down why those thoughts linger, how to catch yourself before the spiral starts, and what to do when your...

Not every piece of criticism is worth carrying and not every comment deserves your energy. In this episode, I chat about how to tell which feedback actually helps you grow and which is just noise. I shares three simple questions to help you decide when to listen, when to let go, and how to stay grounded in who you are. Tune in for a grounded conversation about self-awareness, self friendship, conf...

Isn’t it crazy how one comment can completely mess with your mood? You tell yourself it’s not a big deal, but your brain won’t drop it...it just keeps replaying it. In this episode, Amanda unpacks why criticism stings so much and what’s really happening underneath that gut punch feeling. From the biology of how your brain reacts, to the insecurities criticism exposes, to the stories we start telli...