Dealing with Feeling "Just Breathe" Isn't a Plan: SOUL COLE on Stress, Masculinity, and Stillness
We call it "being productive," but for a lot of us it's a nervous system stuck in go mode. Always on. Always bracing. Then someone says "just breathe" and it sounds like a joke.
Dr. Marc Brackett sits down with former NFL wide receiver and mindfulness facilitator Brandon "SOUL COLE" Coleman to talk about what happens when performance mode becomes your identity and stillness starts to feel unsafe.
In this conversation:
- The identity crash after injury and why it can trigger anxiety, depression, and shutdown
- Why five minutes a day can actually change your patterns if you stick with it
- Mindfulness vs. breathwork and why "just breathe" isn't enough
- The five senses reset that works for skeptics in under two minutes
- Masculinity, vulnerability, and unlearning "tighten up"
- What it looks like to plant these skills early for kids and communities
About the guest:
Brandon "SOUL COLE" Coleman is a former NFL wide receiver and mindfulness facilitator who helps people build practical tools for regulation, resilience, and real-life performance.
Connect with SOUL COLE:
Instagram: @b_cole16
SOUL Impact Foundation: https://soulimpactfoundation.org
Connect with Marc Brackett:
Website: https://marcbrackett.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/marc.brackett
X: https://x.com/drmarcbrackett
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drmarcbrackett
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drmarcbrackett
Dr. Marc Brackett's Books:
Explore Marc Brackett's work at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, where he serves as founding director, and learn more about RULER—an evidence-based, systemic approach to SEL developed at Yale that supports leaders, educators, students, and families in building emotional intelligence and creating healthier school climates.
A special thank you to the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence for supporting this webcast. I also want to thank Oji Life Lab for their generous support: https://ojilifelab.com. Oji Life Lab is the leader in mastery-centered learning for the workplace. To develop your skills in leadership, emotional intelligence and more, visit oji life lab dot com or click the link in the description of this video and use the promo code DEALINGWITHFEELINGS to save 25%.