Most mindset work doesn’t fail because you failed.It fails because we were taught to work on thoughts without understanding the brain, the nervous system, or identity.In this episode, Robin breaks down why affirmations, positive thinking, and motivation often feel good but don’t stick ~ and what neuroscience actually says creates real, lasting change.This conversation is honest, grounding, and deeply validating for anyone who’s ever thought, “Why am I still stuck even though I’m doing the work?”✨ What We Cover🧠 Why traditional mindset work collapses under stress🧠 The difference between cognitive work and neurological work🧠 How the nervous system overrides positive thinking🧠 Why motivation isn’t the problem ~ safety is🧠 What the brain needs in order to rewire and change🧠 Why high performers burn out faster with “push through” mentality🧠 How identity and regulation change everything🔬 Neuroscience Highlights• The brain prioritizes survival over positivity• Stress reduces access to the prefrontal cortex (logic + reframing)• The amygdala and nervous system decide before thoughts do• Neuroplasticity requires repetition and emotional safety• Regulation increases learning, resilience, and cognitive flexibility💡 Key Takeaways✨ You can’t reframe a nervous system that doesn’t feel safe✨ Thoughts are downstream from regulation✨ Mindset work must be identity-first to last✨ Burnout is neurological, not motivational✨ Sustainable change starts with safety, not pressure🌱 Final ReflectionIf mindset work hasn’t worked for you, nothing is wrong with you.You weren’t broken ~ you were unsupported.True resilience isn’t about pushing harder.It’s about learning how to bend without breaking.📣 Share This Episode If…• You’ve tried all the mindset tools but still feel stuck• You’re a high performer navigating burnout• You’re ready for mindset work that actually rewires how you live• You want a brain-aligned, heart-led approach to resilience🎙 Hosted by Robin Gargano & Cliff Terracuso🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.🌐 www.L4Livin.com📩 Robin@L4Livin.com📸 IG @candyforbreakfastpodcast🔗 https://linktr.ee/l4map💞 NABA – Our Wellness Communitywww.naba.com/robin📚 The Beauty Within Tragedyhttps://amzn.to/4o6XKp6
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Most mindset work doesn’t fail because you failed.It fails because we were taught to work on thoughts without understanding the brain, the nervous system, or identity.In this episode, Robin breaks down why affirmations, positive thinking, and motivation often feel good but don’t stick ~ and what neuroscience actually says creates real, lasting change.This conversation is honest, grounding, and deeply validating for anyone who’s ever thought, “Why am I still stuck even though I’m doing the work?”✨ What We Cover🧠 Why traditional mindset work collapses under stress🧠 The difference between cognitive work and neurological work🧠 How the nervous system overrides positive thinking🧠 Why motivation isn’t the problem ~ safety is🧠 What the brain needs in order to rewire and change🧠 Why high performers burn out faster with “push through” mentality🧠 How identity and regulation change everything🔬 Neuroscience Highlights• The brain prioritizes survival over positivity• Stress reduces access to the prefrontal cortex (logic + reframing)• The amygdala and nervous system decide before thoughts do• Neuroplasticity requires repetition and emotional safety• Regulation increases learning, resilience, and cognitive flexibility💡 Key Takeaways✨ You can’t reframe a nervous system that doesn’t feel safe✨ Thoughts are downstream from regulation✨ Mindset work must be identity-first to last✨ Burnout is neurological, not motivational✨ Sustainable change starts with safety, not pressure🌱 Final ReflectionIf mindset work hasn’t worked for you, nothing is wrong with you.You weren’t broken ~ you were unsupported.True resilience isn’t about pushing harder.It’s about learning how to bend without breaking.📣 Share This Episode If…• You’ve tried all the mindset tools but still feel stuck• You’re a high performer navigating burnout• You’re ready for mindset work that actually rewires how you live• You want a brain-aligned, heart-led approach to resilience🎙 Hosted by Robin Gargano & Cliff Terracuso🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.🌐 www.L4Livin.com📩 Robin@L4Livin.com📸 IG @candyforbreakfastpodcast🔗 https://linktr.ee/l4map💞 NABA – Our Wellness Communitywww.naba.com/robin📚 The Beauty Within Tragedyhttps://amzn.to/4o6XKp6
Ep. 39 - The Resilient Lessons From a Life Rebuilt ~ Carmen Johnson’s Story of Life, Legacy & the Power of Community
Candy for Breakfast
1 hour 1 minute
2 months ago
Ep. 39 - The Resilient Lessons From a Life Rebuilt ~ Carmen Johnson’s Story of Life, Legacy & the Power of Community
Some stories don’t just inspire ~ they unfold like a movie that reminds you of your own.In this cinematic-style episode, we sit down with Carmen Johnson, a powerhouse executive, strategic advisor, and advocate for women’s empowerment who dives into her developmental years and how she turned a life that could have gone one way into something extraordinary.Through the scenes of her life, we witness what happens when the script flips unexpectedly ~ from early loss and diagnosis to the strength found in community and purpose. This isn’t just a conversation about breast cancer ~ it’s about transformation, resilience, and the courage to keep rewriting the story even when life doesn’t go as planned.You’re invited to sit in the metaphorical theater with us, to watch real life unfold, and to ask yourself:If this were your story playing on the screen ~ how would you react?✨ Inside This Episode🎞️ How Carmen’s early choices shaped the foundation for her resilience later in life💔 The moment her life shifted from caregiver to patient overnight🌿 What it means to find grace and gratitude in the middle of grief💗 How humor, community, and purpose became her medicine🌅 Why Carmen believes legacy is about how you live now, not just what you leave behind💭 Listener Reflections~ What scene of your life are you currently living, and what lesson is it revealing?~ How can you let others help direct the story when your energy runs low?~ What does legacy mean to you today ~ and how are you living it right now?💕 Loving LinksCarmen continues to champion organizations that empower, educate, and uplift women through every phase of their journey. She’s living proof that advocacy doesn’t end when treatment does ~ it evolves into legacy.🌸 iRise Above Foundation ~ Supporting young women facing breast cancerCarmen and others sponsored and donated toward the publishing costs of Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast Cancer for the foundation’s benefit.🔗https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/📚 Rising Above: Our Transformational Journey to Wholeness After Breast CancerBy Gillian Lichota | ISBN: 9781958472231An anthology that amplifies voices of resilience and healing, supporting the iRise Above Foundation.🔗 https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/🏡 Carolina Breast Friends ~ The Pink HouseProviding comfort, community, prosthetic fittings, and education for women in treatment and recovery.Carmen proudly serves on the Board and plans to chair the Technology Board in 2026.🔗 https://www.carolinabreastfriends.org/🌿 TumbleweedAgentic AI for End-of-Life Planning, Legacy, and 24/7 Caregiver Support.Carmen supports this tech startup to help others prepare with clarity and compassion.🔗 https://tumbleweedplan.com/🎙 Sandwiched PodcastStories and support for the Sandwich Generation and caregivers ~ reminding us we’re never truly alone in caregiving.🔗 https://tumbleweedplan.com/sandwichedhttps://tumbleweedplan.com/sandwiched🎙 Hosted by Robin Gargano & Cliff Terracuso🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.Connect with Robin & Cliff:🌐 www.L4Livin.com📩 Robin@L4Livin.com📸 IG @candyforbreakfastpodcast🔗 https://linktr.ee/l4map📚 Robin’s Book:The Beauty Within Tragedy: How a Resilient Soul Can Turn Grief Into Giftshttps://amzn.to/4o6XKp6
Candy for Breakfast
Most mindset work doesn’t fail because you failed.It fails because we were taught to work on thoughts without understanding the brain, the nervous system, or identity.In this episode, Robin breaks down why affirmations, positive thinking, and motivation often feel good but don’t stick ~ and what neuroscience actually says creates real, lasting change.This conversation is honest, grounding, and deeply validating for anyone who’s ever thought, “Why am I still stuck even though I’m doing the work?”✨ What We Cover🧠 Why traditional mindset work collapses under stress🧠 The difference between cognitive work and neurological work🧠 How the nervous system overrides positive thinking🧠 Why motivation isn’t the problem ~ safety is🧠 What the brain needs in order to rewire and change🧠 Why high performers burn out faster with “push through” mentality🧠 How identity and regulation change everything🔬 Neuroscience Highlights• The brain prioritizes survival over positivity• Stress reduces access to the prefrontal cortex (logic + reframing)• The amygdala and nervous system decide before thoughts do• Neuroplasticity requires repetition and emotional safety• Regulation increases learning, resilience, and cognitive flexibility💡 Key Takeaways✨ You can’t reframe a nervous system that doesn’t feel safe✨ Thoughts are downstream from regulation✨ Mindset work must be identity-first to last✨ Burnout is neurological, not motivational✨ Sustainable change starts with safety, not pressure🌱 Final ReflectionIf mindset work hasn’t worked for you, nothing is wrong with you.You weren’t broken ~ you were unsupported.True resilience isn’t about pushing harder.It’s about learning how to bend without breaking.📣 Share This Episode If…• You’ve tried all the mindset tools but still feel stuck• You’re a high performer navigating burnout• You’re ready for mindset work that actually rewires how you live• You want a brain-aligned, heart-led approach to resilience🎙 Hosted by Robin Gargano & Cliff Terracuso🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.🌐 www.L4Livin.com📩 Robin@L4Livin.com📸 IG @candyforbreakfastpodcast🔗 https://linktr.ee/l4map💞 NABA – Our Wellness Communitywww.naba.com/robin📚 The Beauty Within Tragedyhttps://amzn.to/4o6XKp6
