The Alignment That Builds Trust: When the Outside Doesn't Match the Inside
The Summer Series That Might Just Change You
“I’m not a side character in your story.”
I heard that line in the frozen-food aisle—and it stopped me cold.
Hi friends,
Sometimes a single sentence—tossed into the air like an afterthought—lands with the weight of a truth you didn’t know you were waiting for. That happened to me last week, right between the peas and the pizza rolls.
It was a moment of raw honesty. And somehow, it echoed everything I’ve been thinking about lately: congruence—that quiet, powerful alignment between what we say and how we live. Between our inner world and the way we move through the outer one.
It hit especially hard because of what I explored in Episode 630, which dropped last Friday.
Episode 630 — The Truth About Congruence
He wrote the soundtrack of a generation. But behind the harmonies and surfboards, Brian Wilson was at war—with his mind, his past, and the pressure to keep playing a part.
This final installment in The Connected Life series is one of our most personal yet. It’s a reflection, a tribute, and a challenge:
What happens when the mask no longer fits?
What do we risk when we keep living out of step with ourselves?
And what does it really take to come home to the truth of who we are?
From nervous system safety to spiritual honesty, this episode holds space for the messy, miraculous work of realignment.
Because you are not a side character.
Not in their story.
And definitely not in your own.
→ Listen to the full episode here
You’ll also get the Connection Compass—a practical framework for returning to yourself when life pulls you off course.
What’s New on the Podcast This Week
We’re shifting gears for July with a brand-new series:
The Power of Change
A month-long dive into how transformation actually happens—in our thinking, our habits, and our identity.
Here’s what’s coming this week:
Tuesday – Dr. Bob Rosen
Why Change Fails—and How to Make It Stick
Psychologist and global CEO whisperer Bob Rosen breaks down the internal shifts required to lead through change—from corporate pivots to personal upheaval.
Thursday – Karen Salmansohn
Emotional Fitness for a World on Fire
Bestselling author and resilience expert Karen Salmansohn brings wit and wisdom to staying emotionally strong when life feels anything but easy.
In Case You Missed It
🎧 Eli Finkel & Paul Eastwick — Episode 629
Love, Actually: The Science Behind Lasting Relationships
What makes love stick? Not destiny. Not perfection. But design. Two of the top relationship scientists in the world explain how small shifts in attention and responsiveness build lifelong intimacy.
🎧 Michael Morris — Episode 628
How Culture Shapes the Way We Connect
Before you interpret someone else’s intent—consider their context. This conversation unpacks how our cultural “default settings” shape leadership, empathy, and connection.
✨ This Week’s Spark
Try this: Ask yourself where you feel “off” right now.
Then ask, “What would it look like to move 10% closer to congruence?”
One word spoken honestly.
One “no” you mean.
One moment of alignment.
That’s where it starts.
Because real connection can’t grow on a lie—even a polite one.
Let’s Keep Growing Together
Thanks for being here—not just to consume content, but to live it.
I’d love to hear what resonated. Just hit reply and share what clicked.
More soon,
— John
Live like you matter.
P.S. Want the full framework from the episode?
Download the free Congruence Check-In Workbook with reflection prompts, values audit, and the full Connection Compass here → [Connection Compass]