This Week in The Feel Better Letter π
β Change is more than simply deciding to stop a behavior. Your nervous system and level of consciousness influence the decisions you make and the patterns you continue to repeat.
β When lower emotions are running your life unconsciously, you can end up believing that fear and anxiety are simply part of who you are.
β You can't just will your way through fear. Real change often requires the courage to admit that you need guidance, support, community, and accountability.
β Taking back control starts with finding peace within yourself, so your decisions are no longer driven by fear, resentment, guilt, or other unresolved emotions.
β New episode: Why Chasing Your Goals Won't Get Rid of Your Anxiety
Matt's Message of the Week
The Illusion of Choice, Control, and Free Will
What if changing your life requires more than simply deciding to change?
A lot of people believe that change is just a matter of choice.
You decide to stop ruminating. You decide to stop doing compulsions. You decide that you're no longer going to let fear control you.
But if it were that simple, wouldn't everyone just stop?
Here's what you have to understand: you can't outrun your nervous system and your level of consciousness.
The emotions you've stored in your system influence your decisions and behaviors, often without you even realizing it.
When fear is running the show, you might tell yourself, "This is just who I am. I'm just an anxious person."
But that's not your fate. It's a pattern you haven't yet learned how to transcend.
And this is where real change requires courage.
The courage to admit that maybe you don't know how to do it on your own. That maybe you need guidance, support, community, and accountability.
It also means being honest with yourself about whether you're actually changing or simply telling yourself that you can change whenever you want.
So what does taking back control really mean?
It means learning to find peace within yourself so that your decisions aren't being driven by fear, guilt, resentment, or other lower emotions.
Because when you're operating from those states, your perception becomes skewed. You're not making decisions from a place of clarity. You're reacting to emotions you're unconsciously trying to avoid or control.
Real control begins when you're no longer being controlled by your emotions.
You don't have to accept fear as your fate. But you do have to be willing to do the work to create a different reality.
(Click below to listen to the full message.)
Helpful Episodes for the Week
Why Chasing Your Goals Won't Get Rid of Your Anxiety
You can get the job, the money, the relationship, and still feel the same underneath. In this episode, Matt explains why. He walks through where suffering really comes from, why chasing peace in the outside world keeps fear and anxiety running, and why healing starts with turning inward and looking at what has been running you from underneath, your own state of consciousness.
π [Watch Episode]
The Real Reason You Haven't Healed From Anxiety (Not What You Think)
If you have been struggling with fear, anxiety, panic, or intrusive thoughts for months or years, this episode is for you. Matt shares the top five reasons he has seen people stay stuck, drawing on 15 years of one-on-one work, group trainings, and his own recovery.
π [Watch Episode]
How to Stop Health Anxiety After the Doctor Clears You
In this episode, Matt walks through the paradox of health anxiety. The more you try to control your health through checking, analyzing, and ruminating, the more you can end up in the very state that gets in the way of healing.
π [Watch Episode]
Interested in Working Together?
π§ Free Assessment
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π The Book: From Stuck to Unstuck
Learn the Triple-A Responseβ’ and discover a clear, proven path for stepping out of the fear loop and reclaiming your life.
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π± Taking Back Control Program
Join our 12-week recovery program and get the structure, support, and guidance you need to create lasting change.
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π£οΈ Work 1-on-1 with Matt
Get personalized coaching and direct support from Matt to solidify your recovery and deepen your practice of trust.
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This Weekβs Reminder
Change is more than simply deciding to change.
You can't will your way through emotions that are running your life unconsciously.
It takes courage to acknowledge where you are, recognize what you need, and take the steps to create something different.
You don't have to accept fear as your fate.
You can take back control by learning to find peace within yourself.
To your freedom and success,
Matt
