The Jim Fortin Podcast Ep 400: Escaping the Lion's Cage
Are you unknowingly trapped in a mental cage, mistaking endurance for strength? In this episode, Jim Fortin shares a powerful metaphor inspired by a real-life conversation that challenges the way we think about resilience, struggle, and healing. Through the story of James, a man battling cancer, Jim explores the difference between truly healing and simply enduring—and how many of us are doing the latter in our own lives without even realizing it.
Jim dives deep into the concept of the “lion’s cage”—a mental construct where we fight, struggle, and endure without seeking liberation. Whether it’s money, health, or relationships, many people are stuck in survival mode, believing that fighting harder is the path to success. But what if the real answer is learning to let go, rewire your subconscious beliefs, and finally walk out of the cage?
If you’re tired of feeling stuck, fighting the same battles, and not seeing progress, this episode is the wake-up call you need to finally break free.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
(01:05) The Story of James and the Lion’s Cage
How one man’s battle with illness reveals the difference between surviving and truly healing.
(05:40) The Subconscious Trap of Endurance
Why a “positive mindset” isn’t enough—and how subconscious beliefs silently keep us stuck.
(14:43) Why Fighting Weakens You
Jim unpacks a quote from Mother Teresa to show why resistance only strengthens what we resist.
(16:17) The Real Way Out of the Cage
What it takes to stop running, open up to new possibilities, and break free from mental traps.
(21:42) You Don’t Know What You Think You Know
A humbling and freeing reminder that awareness, not knowledge, is the first step to transformation.
(29:00) The True Price of Freedom
It costs nothing but your willingness to change—and everything if you don’t.
Listen, apply, and enjoy!
Transformational Takeaway
The lion’s cage is an illusion—one built by years of conditioning, false beliefs, and a refusal to question what you think you know. You may believe you’re strong for enduring, but true strength lies in walking away from the fight altogether. You don’t have to keep running. The moment you realize that your current thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs are the very things keeping you trapped, is the moment you unlock the door. Nothing changes until you change. So, ask yourself: What price are you willing to pay to be free?
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With gratitude,
Jim