Brain Unblocked: The Brainspotting Podcast

Have you worried that your inability to moderate means that you’re an alcoholic or that you somehow suck at having willpower or consistency?  That’s the old way of thinking.  The new way is to recognize this problem for what it truly is.  You’re stuck on the Groundhog Day Cycle of Shame. In this episode, I’ll breakdown the Cycle of Shame so you can self-diagnose if you’re on it, and exactly which stage you’re in.    You don’t want to miss:   The 4 stages on the Groundhog Day Cycle of Shame The reason you stay stuck on this cycle even when you do what seems to work for everyone else How to know where on the cycle you currently are so you can choose the personalized path to step off the cycle   PLUS, what you can do to take the first step toward having an ACTUAL healthy relationship with alcohol.    Links and resources: How Wine-Loving Perfectionists Can Stop Over-Drinking without White-Knuckling through Cravings using as little as 15 minutes a day: Free Start Optimizing Workshop October 27, 2022 Optimized AF Academy - Doors Open October 27 - November 1, 2022 Mistaken Moderation e-Book - Download for free now Get a Daily Brain Block Buster delivered right to your inbox every M-F to help you get past the brain blocks keeping you stuck on groundhog day so you can take action and move the needle in your business.  Sign up at https://carolynrobistow.net/daily  Download your free body scan meditation so you can take the first step toward subcortical healing https://carolynrobistow.net/bodyscan  Join the waitlist for Optimized AF Academy https://carolynrobistow.net/optimizedaf  Follow me on Instagram: @carolynrobistow  Find a Brainspotting practitioner near you: https://brainspotting.com/directory/ UK-specific directory: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/therapists/ ​​Free Biolateral Music https://youtu.be/Eu_kSaFzSR0 Brainspotting by Dr. David Grand https://amzn.to/3AvtiNK

Moderation is a myth.  This is the first of four episodes dedicated to unlearning the myth of moderation and replacing it with a new way of having a healthy relationship with alcohol so you can easily and effortlessly take it or leave it. In this episode, we’ll focus on the unlearning and why it’s critical to see moderation in a new light.   You don’t want to miss:   The reason moderation is the wrong way to change your relationship with alcohol. The questions you should be asking to determine the health of your current relationship with alcohol Why that person who looks like a moderate drinker might still have an unhealthy relationship with it.  PLUS, what you can do to take the first step toward having an ACTUAL healthy relationship with alcohol.    Links and resources: How Wine-Loving Perfectionists Can Stop Over-Drinking without White-Knuckling through Cravings using as little as 15 minutes a day: Free Start Optimizing Workshop October 27, 2022 Mistaken Moderation e-Book - Download for free now Get a Daily Brain Block Buster delivered right to your inbox every M-F to help you get past the brain blocks keeping you stuck on groundhog day so you can take action and move the needle in your business.  Sign up at https://carolynrobistow.net/daily  Download your free body scan meditation so you can take the first step toward subcortical healing https://carolynrobistow.net/bodyscan  Join the waitlist for Optimized AF Academy https://carolynrobistow.net/optimizedaf  Follow me on Instagram: @carolynrobistow  Find a Brainspotting practitioner near you: https://brainspotting.com/directory/ UK-specific directory: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/therapists/ ​​Free Biolateral Music https://youtu.be/Eu_kSaFzSR0 Brainspotting by Dr. David Grand https://amzn.to/3AvtiNK

I debated for a while before writing and publishing this episode… but I feel pretty strongly about it… I think it’s a must-listen for anyone doing Sober October (or any break from alcohol)! This episode is not about making Sober October sound bad.  It’s about making sure that anyone doing sober october gets the most out of it and avoids these common mistakes. You don’t want to miss:   The warnings about Sober October from a former Groundhog Day Drinker (and her clients).  The painful results of my own sobriety challenges in October (hint: it was the Cycle of Shame) How Sober October can accidentally put you on the Groundhog Day Drinker’s Cycle of Shame PLUS, what you need to know in order to have an Optimized Sober October without feeling restricted or limited.    Links and resources: Mistaken Moderation e-Book - Download for free now Get a Daily Brain Block Buster delivered right to your inbox every M-F to help you get past the brain blocks keeping you stuck on groundhog day so you can take action and move the needle in your business.  Sign up at https://carolynrobistow.net/daily  Download your free body scan meditation so you can take the first step toward subcortical healing https://carolynrobistow.net/bodyscan  Join the waitlist for Optimized AF Academy https://carolynrobistow.net/optimizedaf  Follow me on Instagram: @carolynrobistow  Find a Brainspotting practitioner near you: https://brainspotting.com/directory/ UK-specific directory: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/therapists/ ​​Free Biolateral Music https://youtu.be/Eu_kSaFzSR0 Brainspotting by Dr. David Grand https://amzn.to/3AvtiNK

Getting right with alcohol is only the first step to truly fulfilling your purpose.  Alcohol holds you back, but what happens AFTER?  This week I got to reconnect with Jenn Linck after one year and we chat about life as an Optimized AFer.   Jenn Linck is  a personal trainer, healthy habit and accountability coach, a Chief Warrant Officer Three in the US Army Reserves, a champion collegiate rower, a former bodybuilder, mom, a wife, and a woman in recovery...but that’s not the important part. The important part is that she perseveres  through life’s curveballs, keeps going despite challenges, and never gives up. Her passion for training and coaching is in her blood. When she was fourteen, her late father (who was a body-building competitor in the eighties) took her to the gym and taught her how to use every single piece of equipment. It’s no surprise then, that when it came time to get my National Association of Sports Medicine certification, she studied for just two weeks and passed. She is also part of the Army’s Master Fitness Trainer program, which helps Soldiers prepare for physical fitness tests. Through decades of trial and error, she learned that how fitness feels is more important than how it looks.  On January 5, 2020, after nearly 20 years of trying to moderate my drinking, she surrendered to the truth that the life she wanted to create could no longer include alcohol. Her mission is very simple: Build a community of people who want to feel awesome from the inside out, by providing a non-alcoholic fitness option where everyone (except alcohol and diet culture) is invited. At ConFITence, alcohol is not a reward and exercise is not a punishment. You don’t want to miss:   Jenn’s latest (and courageous) business venture that will help connect like-minded AFers in New Jersey! Jenn’s reflections on a different outcome if she’d continued trying to moderate her drinking An unplanned segment about each of us reaching our 1,000 Days AF!   PLUS, find out how to WIN 30 Days of FREE virtual training with Jenn including weekly 1:1 sessions!   Links and resources: Enter the Giveaway to win FREE training with Jenn by finding the Giveaway post at www.instagram.com/carolynrobistow (check the caption for how to get an extra entry) Visit ConFITence’s home on the web (and remember to pop in if you’re in the area!) http://www.confitencetraining.com Follow Jenn on Instagram at @jennlinck_confitence  Get a Daily Brain Block Buster delivered right to your inbox every M-F to help you get past the brain blocks keeping you stuck on groundhog day so you can take action and move the needle in your business.  Sign up at https://carolynrobistow.net/daily  Download your free body scan meditation so you can take the first step toward subcortical healing https://carolynrobistow.net/bodyscan  Join the waitlist for Optimized AF Academy https://carolynrobistow.net/optimizedaf  Follow me on Instagram: @carolynrobistow  Find a Brainspotting practitioner near you: https://brainspotting.com/directory/ UK-specific directory: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/therapists/ ​​Free Biolateral Music https://youtu.be/Eu_kSaFzSR0 Brainspotting by Dr. David Grand https://amzn.to/3AvtiNK

This episode is for everyone who is either drinking regularly without thinking about how it impacts your productivity OR everyone who is drinking regularly and wants to change the amount and/or frequency… ESPECIALLY if you’re working on big goals for yourself!   You don’t want to miss:   Why I prefer to talk about the benefits of being an AFer instead of the harms of alcohol The 6 areas of improved quality of life that people most often forget to acknowledge How these benefits are especially important for entrepreneurs and self-made people   PLUS, a quick activity to help your subcortical brain start to absorb the possibility of a life with less alcohol.    Links and resources: Get a Daily Brain Block Buster delivered right to your inbox every M-F to help you get past the brain blocks keeping you stuck on groundhog day so you can take action and move the needle in your business.  Sign up at https://carolynrobistow.net/daily  Download your free body scan meditation so you can take the first step toward subcortical healing https://carolynrobistow.net/bodyscan  Join the waitlist for Optimized AF Academy https://carolynrobistow.net/optimizedaf  Follow me on Instagram: @carolynrobistow  Find a Brainspotting practitioner near you: https://brainspotting.com/directory/ UK-specific directory: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/therapists/ ​​Free Biolateral Music https://youtu.be/Eu_kSaFzSR0 Brainspotting by Dr. David Grand https://amzn.to/3AvtiNK World Famous: How to Create a Kick-Ass Brand by David Tyreman https://www.amazon.com/World-Famous-Third-David-Tyreman/dp/1732024405/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=1732024405&psc=1https://www.amazon.com/World-Famous-Third-David-Tyreman/dp/1732024405/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=1732024405&psc=1 Amanda Kuda on Instagram @AmandaKuda Alcohol Explained by William Porter https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-Explained-William-Porter/dp/1516997190#:~:text=Alcohol%20Explained%20is%20the%20definitive,right%20up%20to%20chronic%20alcoholism.

If you’re a self-made person, then you’ve likely encountered a few stumbling blocks along your path.  Sometimes these are societal or cultural blocks, and often times, they are also deep brain blocks that hinder your progress.  This is happening to you if you’ve had an idea or goal that you know “what to do” but taking action on it has just not happened at the rate you want it to.  Growth feels slow, and you’re telling yourself “it’s supposed to be hard and take a long time, success doesn't happen overnight!”  But what if there’s actually an internal reason your success is moving so slowly? In this episode, I’ll walk you through the main ways entrepreneurs get stuck and what you can do if you find yourself in one of these stuck spot.    You don’t want to miss:   The 4 most common brain blocks for my entrepreneurial clients The number 1 mistake most entrepreneurs make when they encounter one of these blocks. The most efficient way to fully rid yourself of these brain blocks   PLUS, a quick overview of the science of your brain and body that take concepts like subconsciousness and make them tangible and accessible.    Links and resources: Get a Daily Brain Block Buster delivered right to your inbox every M-F to help you get past the brain blocks keeping you stuck on groundhog day so you can take action and move the needle in your business.  Sign up at https://carolynrobistow.net/daily  Download your free body scan meditation so you can take the first step toward subcortical healing https://carolynrobistow.net/bodyscan  Join the waitlist for Optimized AF Academy https://carolynrobistow.net/optimizedaf  Follow me on Instagram: @carolynrobistow  Find a Brainspotting practitioner near you: https://brainspotting.com/directory/ UK-specific directory: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/therapists/ ​​Free Biolateral Music https://youtu.be/Eu_kSaFzSR0 Brainspotting by Dr. David Grand https://amzn.to/3AvtiNK

Explore the concept of brain blocking and continuous growth with brain spotting. Learn about 'squeezing the lemon' in your subcortical brain and overcoming fears in relationships. Discover the intersection of abundance and scarcity, and get a sneak peek at upcoming offers for personal growth.

The days of either being an alcoholic or being a healthy drinker are long gone, if they ever truly existed in the first place.  Now, we recognize that drinking habits can exist on a full spectrum, and whether or not you place on that spectrum is healthy includes defining your own boundaries for what is aligned with your goal lifestyle.  Yes, there are critical markers for addiction, but what if you don’t meet those markers and you’re still unhappy with your relationship with alcohol?  In this episode, you’ll learn how to dial in your expectations for your goal lifestyle, including how you truly feel about your relationship with alcohol.  You don’t want to miss:   Why outdated questions lead to shame and unhelpful self-judgment What to ask yourself if you want to truly understand your relationship with alcohol Examples of how you might feel or think that could be worth deeper exploration in your self-coaching work   PLUS, I outline your next steps if you do want support in  making a change to your current relationship with alcohol.   Links and resources: Get a Daily Brain Block Buster delivered right to your inbox every M-F to help you get past the brain blocks keeping you stuck on groundhog day so you can take action and move the needle in your business.  Sign up at https://carolynrobistow.net/daily  Download your free body scan meditation so you can take the first step toward subcortical healing https://carolynrobistow.net/bodyscan  Join the waitlist for Optimized AF Academy https://carolynrobistow.net/optimizedaf  Follow me on Instagram: @carolynrobistow  Find a Brainspotting practitioner near you: https://brainspotting.com/directory/ UK-specific directory: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/therapists/ ​​Free Biolateral Music https://youtu.be/Eu_kSaFzSR0 Brainspotting by Dr. David Grand https://amzn.to/3AvtiNK

There used to be a stigma (and practice) in which working on your mental and emotional wellbeing meant lying on a couch with a therapist behind you writing notes and judging your thoughts.  Now, there are myriad ways mental wellness work might look.  Chris McDonald works with counselors who feel passionate about bringing more holistic means of healing into the therapy room.  She joins me today on the podcast to talk about her passion of holistic counseling.  You don’t want to miss:   How Chris weaves various holistic approaches into her work as a counselor in North Carolina, U.S. Chris’s own trifecta of healing modalities Her passion for helping like-minded therapists feel comfortable bringing holistic elements into their client work   PLUS, she shares an easy exercise for getting grounded and centered so you can listen to your inner voice, whether it’s the voice of anxiety, wisdom, or something else.   Links and resources: The Holistic Counseling Podcast Chris’s Private Therapy Practice: Path to Hope Counseling Get a Daily Brain Block Buster delivered right to your inbox every M-F to help you get past the brain blocks keeping you stuck on groundhog day so you can take action and move the needle in your business.  Sign up at https://carolynrobistow.net/daily  Download your free body scan meditation so you can take the first step toward subcortical healing https://carolynrobistow.net/bodyscan  Join the waitlist for Optimized AF Academy https://carolynrobistow.net/optimizedaf  Follow me on Instagram: @carolynrobistow  Find a Brainspotting practitioner near you: https://brainspotting.com/directory/ UK-specific directory: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/therapists/ ​​Free Biolateral Music https://youtu.be/Eu_kSaFzSR0 Brainspotting by Dr. David Grand https://amzn.to/3AvtiNK

Sometimes you might just want a plug-n-play manual to get you out of your funk.  These six questions will help get your thinking brain focused in a new way, so you can more easily see why you’re stuck and what you can do to get unstuck.  Use these questions daily, weekly, or save them for difficult days where you’re in your head and over-complicating.  Make sure you download the free PDF journal of the questions to have on-hand anytime (without having to re-listen to the entire episode every time!).   You don’t want to miss:   What is top-down processing and how does it differ from bottom-up processing? Symptoms that let you know when it’s time to self-coach  How to quickly and easily move into a mindset change when you’re stuck   PLUS, the explanation for why I recommend these specific questions and what you can expect to notice if you use them regularly.    Links and resources: Download the free PDF journal to use for self-coaching on-demand Get a Daily Brain Block Buster delivered right to your inbox every M-F to help you get past the brain blocks keeping you stuck on groundhog day so you can take action and move the needle in your business.  Sign up at https://carolynrobistow.net/daily  Download your free body scan meditation so you can take the first step toward subcortical healing https://carolynrobistow.net/bodyscan  Join the waitlist for Optimized AF Academy https://carolynrobistow.net/optimizedaf  Follow me on Instagram: @carolynrobistow  Find a Brainspotting practitioner near you: https://brainspotting.com/directory/ UK-specific directory: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/therapists/ ​​Free Biolateral Music https://youtu.be/Eu_kSaFzSR0 Brainspotting by Dr. David Grand https://amzn.to/3AvtiNK