The Stories We Tell Ourselves (And Why They Matter)

What Burnout Really Is and Why Pausing Is the Bravest Thing You Can Do

We live in a culture that treats busyness as a badge of honour. The more you do, the more you’re worth. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Lorena Bernal — author, speaker, and the founder of LiveLoveBetter — and within the first few minutes she said something that stopped me in my tracks. When I asked her who she really is, beneath the career and the roles and the accolades, she didn’t hesitate: “A soul with a little girl kind of vibe. Very happy and grateful to be living a human experience on earth.” That answer struck a chord. The storm in your head Lorena’s take on burnout cuts through the noise. It’s not simply about working too hard — it’s about living too far from the present moment. She describes it as getting lost in a storm of worries, future plans, and the nagging fear of not doing enough. “If you go back to the present and do what you’re doing at this moment, suddenly it loosens that weight you have.” It sounds almost too simple. But the more I think about it, the more I believe simplicity is the point. We’ve overcomplicated rest, wellness, even parenting — turning each of them into another performance to optimise. Achievement without foundation One of the most honest moments in our conversation came when Lorena described being at the peak of her Hollywood career and experiencing a profound loss at the same time. No amount of professional success could touch the emptiness she felt. “I feel so empty and it’s going so well. What I thought would give me what I wanted in life is not even close to fulfilling the emptiness I feel inside.” That’s a hard thing to admit. Harder still to use it as a turning point. But she did. And I think a lot of high performers will recognise that feeling — the gnawing sense that something vital is missing even when everything looks perfect on paper. The one thing worth doing When I asked Lorena for a single daily practice that’s genuinely shifted her mental health, she didn’t sell me a morning routine or a supplement stack. She said: stop, breathe, and feel grateful — not as a concept, but as a felt experience in your body. “Thank you for my heart beating. Thank you for my breathing. Just that, a few seconds, regulates your whole nervous system.” There’s something quietly radical about that. In a world that’s monetised mindfulness and turned self-care into a productivity tool, she’s pointing back to something far older and simpler. Lorena’s book It Starts With You [https://www.livelovebetter.co.uk/it-starts-with-you/] is a good place to begin if any of this resonated. You can also find her at livelovebetter.co.uk [https://www.livelovebetter.co.uk/]. Now press play. The full conversation is worth your time.Instagram: @jamieliveswellTikTok: @jamieliveswellSubstack: JamieLivesWellYouTube: @jamieliveswellLinkedIn: Jamie MacDonaldWebsite: jamieliveswell.com [http://jamieliveswell.com] Get full access to Jamie MacDonald at www.jamieliveswell.com/subscribe [https://www.jamieliveswell.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Your Body Knows Before Your Mind Does

One thing that stayed with me from this week’s podcast with Remnant MD [https://substack.com/profile/47137712-remnant-md] was this idea that the body often knows before the mind does. We talked a lot about the gut — not just digestion, but the growing understanding that gut health may influence mood, energy, intuition, and overall wellbeing more than we realize. I’ve noticed this in my own life too. Usually when I feel anxious, foggy, exhausted, or just “off,” my body has been trying to tell me something long before my brain catches up. JamieLivesWell is presented by Just Thrive:https://justthrivehealth.com/JAMIELIVESWELL [https://justthrivehealth.com/JAMIELIVESWELL] I’ve been paying more attention to gut health recently, and one brand I’ve liked is Just Thrive. Their probiotics are designed to survive digestion and actually reach the gut effectively — which is a surprisingly important detail. 🧠 The Gut Does More Than Digest Food One of the most interesting parts of the conversation was discussing how disconnected many of us have become from our bodies. Modern life teaches us to override signals constantly: * push through exhaustion * scroll instead of resting * ignore stress * numb discomfort But the body keeps communicating anyway. And increasingly, research around the gut-brain connection suggests the gut may play a much bigger role in mental and emotional wellbeing than we once thought. Lately I’ve become more aware of how differently I feel depending on: * what I eat * sleep * stress * sunlight * time in nature You can feel the difference. Sometimes wellness starts with paying attention again. Not obsessing.Not optimizing everything. Just noticing what actually makes you feel good. The full podcast with Remnant MD is above if you’d like to listen. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieliveswell [https://www.instagram.com/jamieliveswell]Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamieliveswel [https://www.youtube.com/@jamieliveswell] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamieliveswell [https://www.tiktok.com/@jamieliveswell] Get full access to Jamie MacDonald at www.jamieliveswell.com/subscribe [https://www.jamieliveswell.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Stories We Tell Ourselves (And Why They Matter)

A line from a recent podcast conversation has stayed with me all week: “All words are magic spells. Be very conscious of how you use them to describe yourself.” I recently sat down with artist Adam Henry [https://www.instagram.com/adamdhenry/] to talk about burnout, creativity, meditation, and self-talk. And what struck me most was this: A lot of us are exhausted not just because of what we’re doing — but because of the way we speak to ourselves while we do it. I should be doing more.I’m behind.I haven’t done enough. That kind of thinking quietly shapes how we experience life. This issue is presented by: I’ve been using BioOptimizers products as part of my evening routine lately — especially during busy weeks when recovery feels off. BioOptimizers is offering JamieLivesWell readers 15% off sitewide below. Burnout Isn’t Always About Work Adam described burnout not as overwork, but as becoming exhausted by the story he was telling himself. That felt very real to me. At one point he said: “The best performers aren’t always ‘on.’ They’re just better at turning it on and off.” Toward the end of the conversation, I asked him what he would tell his younger self. His answer: “Believe in yourself and quiet all the chatter.” Honestly, I think a lot of us need that reminder right now. Further Reading: Get full access to Jamie MacDonald at www.jamieliveswell.com/subscribe [https://www.jamieliveswell.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

🧠 The Calm Performance Issue: How to Perform Without Burning Out

🧠 Episode Description In this launch episode, I sit down with mental performance coach Grant Chasson to explore resilience, mindset, sleep, and the daily habits that shape how we feel. We break down why mental toughness today isn’t about pushing through or suppressing emotion—but about discipline, consistency, and the ability to reframe challenges in real time. From cold exposure and journaling to sleep optimization and supplements, this conversation is a practical look at how to build a stronger, calmer, more resilient mind—one habit at a time. 🔑 Key Takeaways Mental toughness today = consistent behavior, not “tough guy” energy Stress is often the result of too much comfort + distraction Sleep is the foundation of mental performance (not the reward) Physical health directly impacts anxiety, mood, and clarity Cognitive reframing is one of the most powerful mindset tools you can build Cold exposure trains your ability to stay calm under stress Journaling helps clear mental clutter and improve decision-making Gratitude shifts your emotional baseline and reaction patterns A simple “reset” (like breathwork or a walk) can stop negative spirals ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction01:00 – Grant’s background + mental health journey03:30 – Morning routine + cold plunge06:20 – What mental toughness actually means in 202608:50 – Stress vs comfort vs distraction11:30 – Social pressure + teenagers today13:30 – Cognitive reframing as a “superpower”15:45 – Sleep, hormones, and mental health21:20 – Parenting, sleep, and perspective26:30 – Cold exposure + contrast therapy31:30 – Supplements for performance + recovery34:30 – Bulletproof coffee + caffeine habits35:00 – Daily habits that changed everything38:30 – Journaling + productivity41:50 – Building a reset system43:50 – Book recommendations 🧩 Resources & Mentions Whoop Band Fitbit AG1 Magnesium Glycinate Creatine L-Theanine “The Way of Excellence” – Brad Stulberg “Relentless” – Tim Grover “Greatness” – Dr. David Cook https://grantchiasson.com/ [https://grantchiasson.com/]https://www.instagram.com/grantchiasson/ [https://www.instagram.com/grantchiasson/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-chiasson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-chiasson] https://instagram.com/jamieliveswell [https://instagram.com/jamieliveswell] https://www.tiktok.com/@jamieliveswell [https://www.tiktok.com/@jamieliveswell] Get full access to Jamie MacDonald at www.jamieliveswell.com/subscribe [https://www.jamieliveswell.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]