You Can’t Think Your Way to Wellness
Why Safety, Not Strength, Unlocks Healing
I spent years trying to outthink my anxiety—until I realized my nervous system wasn’t listening.
Anxiety felt like a puzzle to solve.
My default move? Double down on mental strength—be tougher, sharper, more in control.
But here’s the problem: the body doesn’t speak the language of logic.
You can throw every mindset hack, affirmation, and rational explanation at it you want—but if your nervous system doesn’t feel safe, your mind isn’t in the driver’s seat.
This Week: Feel — Healing the Nervous System
We’re in Week 2 of our Reclaiming Wellness series:
Fuel – What you put in your body (food, rest, energy)
Feel – How you regulate emotions + heal the nervous system (this week)
Fulfill – The meaning behind your work and purpose
Flow – Integrating identity, values, and legacy
Because wellness isn’t just about what you know.
It’s about what your body believes.
Two Guests Who Are Redefining Healing
On Tuesday, I’m joined by Wolfgang Linden, one of the world’s leading experts in health psychology, whose research shows how mindset and emotional processing directly influence our ability to heal.
On Thursday, you’ll hear from Dr. Kevin Tracey, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, whose decades of work on the vagus nerve have led to a historic breakthrough:
The FDA has just approved the SetPoint System, a groundbreaking implantable device that stimulates the vagus nerve to reduce inflammation. This could transform treatment for 1.5 million people living with rheumatoid arthritis—and opens new doors for other inflammatory diseases.
What We’ll Explore This Week
Why your nervous system—not your willpower—is the real foundation of mental health
How emotional trauma gets stored in the body, and why you can’t “think it away”
The science of vagal stimulation, and why safety signals—not strength—unlock healing
Practical ways to regulate your nervous system so your mind and body finally work together
If you’ve been “being strong” while your body stays stuck in survival mode, these conversations may reframe everything you thought you knew about healing.
Because while the mind may write the story—the body still holds the pen.
In Case You Missed It
🎧 Episode 646 – Drew Ramsey
Mental Fitness From the Inside Out
In this episode, Drew and I explore what it really means to build mental fitness—not just through effort, but by creating the conditions that allow healing to land.
We dive into the science of why even the best wellness routines can fall flat—covering the glymphatic system, BDNF, gut health, and how stress impacts your brain’s ability to absorb what you give it. Drew shares why small shifts in nutrition, sleep, and nervous system care can radically transform your energy and resilience.
If you’ve ever done everything “right” and still felt stuck, this conversation will help you stop blaming your willpower—and start rebuilding your foundation.
🎧 Episode 647 – Dr. Erika Schwarz
You’re Not “Just Getting Older”—You’re Being Ignored
In this episode, Dr. Erika Schwartz explains why symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, and burnout are often signs of hormonal imbalance—not character flaws or inevitabilities.
We explore how traditional medicine often overlooks key markers of health—like testosterone, thyroid function, and perimenopause—and how advocating for yourself can be the turning point. Dr. Erika breaks down how hormones interact with the gut, inflammation, cognition, and even identity.
If you’ve been told “you’re fine” when you know something’s off, this conversation is your invitation to stop normalizing dysfunction—and start reclaiming your health on your terms.
The Next Step: From Listening to Living
One of my biggest goals with Passion Struck isn’t just to inspire you during the episode—it’s to help you apply what you hear to your life in real, tangible ways.
That’s why I’ve been building something new:
Exclusive takeaways, reflection prompts, and workbooks you can only get by subscribing to The Ignited Life on Substack.
It’s where we turn insight into action—step-by-step.
Listening is the spark. This is where we turn it into fire.
Something Special is Coming…
Before I go, I have an announcement that’s been years in the making. I can’t share details yet, but it’s a project designed for the youngest hearts—yet with a message for all of us.
Stay tuned for the reveal, and as always—thank you for listening, learning, and choosing to live like you matter.
Let’s begin again—from the inside out.
Live Life Passion Struck,
John