Are you the person who flips someone off in traffic, or do you feel like your partner "should just know" what you need without being asked?,. In this episode of The Framework, licensed therapist David Waselkow and entrepreneur Tyler dive into the "blind arena" of entitlement, a hidden psychological force that might be the root of your anger, road rage, and relationship conflicts

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Entitlement isn’t just for "snowflakes" or a specific generation; it is a universal human dilemma that affects how we drive, lead, and love. We break down:
• The Operational Definition: Understanding entitlement as the belief that you are inherently deserving of special treatment or privileges simply because of who you are.
• The "Blind Arena": Why most people are completely unaware of their own entitlements until they result in affective distress (negative feelings like rage or frustration).
• The Rules of the Road (and Home): How road rage and relationship "decrees" are actually emotional protests against the world not following your unwritten rules.
• The Workplace & Parenting Trap: Why "bossing" isn’t leadership and why parents must earn a relationship with their children rather than demanding it by title alone.
• Humility vs. Ego: Why the path to success is littered with fuckups and how to use humility to turn mistakes into growth.

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Stop the Conflict. Start the Work. Most relationship disputes are actually disputes regarding the rules,. If you find yourself constantly angry, feeling victimized by others' behavior, or struggling to maintain a high-functioning relationship, it’s time to look at the rules in your blind arena.

Relationships are work, and you don’t "deserve" a great one, you earn it through honesty, needs advocacy, and rule negotiation. Ready to unpack your rules? If you are tired of the cycle of frustration and want to develop the self-awareness necessary for a sustainable, satisfying life, let's get to work.

Schedule a consultation or therapy appointment with David Waselkow to start applying The Framework to your own life and relationships.

Are you tired of making the same New Year’s resolutions every year only to give up four to six weeks later? In this episode, we break down why the traditional approach to change is a "maladaptive coping skill" for guilt rather than a roadmap for success. We explore the psychological shift from "have-to" to "want-to" and explain why your environment, your "tribe," and your mindset are more important than any date on a calendar.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

1. The Trap of Prohibitive Thinking: Why starting a journey from a place of self-hatred or avoidance (e.g., "I don't want to be fat") sets you up for failure from the beginning.
2. Rewriting the Rules: How to view yourself as the architect of your own relational system and why you must be willing to return to the "negotiation table" daily to refine your progress.
3. Acceptance vs. Endorsement: Learning that acknowledging your current reality is the first step toward changing it, without the need for shame or judgment.
4. Performance Over Aesthetics: Why focusing on measurable performance gains leads to faster results and long-term sustainability compared to focusing on body composition alone.
5. Ending the Isolation: The critical role of support and accountability and why working with a professional to design a custom plan is the "difference maker" for success.

Stop Wasting Time Stop waiting for "Monday" or the "New Year" to mortgage your happiness for the future. Change happens in real-time through the cumulative effect of small, daily decisions.

Ready to stop wishing and start winning? If you are ready to assemble your "news team," negotiate new rules for your life, and finally see the results your effort deserves, it's time to stop lying to yourself and take action.

Are the holidays leaving you feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or stuck in a loop of "here we go again"?

In this episode of The Framework, we strip away the marketing and the "fat guy in a red suit" to explore why Christmas is often the most difficult time of year for so many. We dive deep into a core psychological truth: It is not the event itself that causes disturbance, but rather the meaning we assign to that event. Whether you are a parent trying to "replicate the magic," someone navigating the holidays after a divorce, or a professional feeling the weight of social obligations, you might be suffering because you are playing by rules written by someone else.

In this episode, you will learn how to:

• Scrutinize the "rules" and "shoulds": Understand how family traditions and social expectations can disempower you and lead to intense stress.
• Identify your "Affirmative Why": Discover how to become the "author and architect" of your own reasons for celebrating, ensuring they align with your authentic values.
• Step out of the Victim Mentality: Learn to take a step back, breathe, and realize you have the power to change your perspective and your response in a single moment.
• Manage "Activations" in Real-Time: Use the tools of The Framework to identify when you are being triggered and take responsibility for your reactions instead of projecting them onto others.
• The "Fail Fast" Mentality: Learn why recognizing a mistake or a negative thought in the moment allows you to make a slight adjustment and move forward without guilt.

The holidays don’t have to be a recipe for depression or negative self-talk. By choosing to focus on your highest order values—whether that is family, service, or simply creating new traditions—you can navigate this season with peace and intentionality.

Take the next step in your mental health journey. If you find yourself struggling to bridge the gap between your values and your daily experience, it’s time to build a personal framework that works for you.

Stop operating under someone else's "why" and start standing in your own truth. Let’s work together to identify your triggers, scrutinize your assigned meanings, and help you gain the faith in yourself needed to navigate any season of life..

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Analogy for Understanding: Think of your mental health like a GPS system during the holidays. Most people are driving with "factory settings"—the rules and meanings installed by their parents or society.

When you hit the "traffic" of holiday stress, the GPS starts shouting "shoulds" and "oughts," leading you into a loop of frustration. Scheduling an appointment is like reprogramming your own coordinates; it allows you to set a destination based on your own values so that even when you hit a detour, you know exactly why you’re on the road and how to get where you want to go.

Are you tired of feeling like your life or relationships are a "shit show"? Most of us are living by a set of unconscious rules that govern our perceptions, communications, and interactions, often without us even realizing it. In this episode of The Framework,

David Waselkow and Tyler dive deep into the "poisonous tree" of prohibitive thinking—the fear-based mindset of "I don't want to be..." or "I'm afraid of..." that keeps you trapped in a loop of anxiety and unfulfilled needs.

Why You Feel Stuck Every relationship you are in, including the one with yourself, exists in a system governed by rules. When you experience affective distress—feelings of sadness, anger, or fear—it is a signal that your internal rules are being violated. Unfortunately, many of these rules are built on prohibitive thoughts, such as "I don't want to be needy," "I'm afraid of being a disappointment," or "I refuse to be taken advantage of". These are "goals without end" because you can never truly measure success in not becoming something, leading to a life of constant self-sabotage and "magical thinking".

The Power of Affirmative Thinking To transform your life, you must move from prohibitive thinking to affirmative thinking. This isn't just "positive thinking"; it is reality-based, solution-focused thinking that allows you to identify your values and advocate for your needs. Whether you are struggling with intimacy, parenting, or business leadership, the path to success requires rewriting your rules to be measurable and doable.

In this episode, we explore:

• The "Hairy Nipple" Lesson: Why being afraid to express what you want leads to "farts in the wind" and missed connections

• The "Ass-Slapping" Affection Trap: How lack of precision in your rules leads to "wonky" dynamics and resentment

• Rewiring Your Brain: How to use intentionality and neuroplasticity to break old habits and develop new, healthy patterns

• The Truth About Therapy: Why the relationship and "fit" between you and your therapist is the #1 predictor of success Ready to Unfuck Your Thinking? David Waselkow offers a clinical and consultative approach designed to empower you with the truth and help you stop the pain on the brain.

If you are ready to stop "firing blind" and start leading with your head, it’s time to schedule an appointment Take the first step toward a functional, adaptive life. Visit www.davidwaselkow.com to read more about The Framework, access supplemental articles, and book your consultation.

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The Posture of Progress To understand the importance of intentionality in changing your life, consider the deadlift. If your posture is "wonky" before you even pull the bar, every movement that follows will be out of position, limiting your strength and risking injury. In the same way, approaching a conflict or a goal with prohibitive, fear-based thinking is like lifting with a rounded back. By setting a proper affirmative posture from the start, you gain the "superpower" to handle the heavy lifting of life with strength and composure.

Are family dinners turning into battlefields? Does the current political climate make your "pucker tighten" with anxiety before you even walk into a room? In this episode of The Framework, therapist David Waselkow and co-host Tyler explore why political division is tearing apart marriages, family systems, and friendships,. Drawing from professional clinical experience,

David reveals how the 2016 election caused a massive surge in patients seeking help for diagnosable psychological conditions driven by domestic politics—and why the current polarization is exponentially higher,,. This isn't a debate about candidates; it’s a deep dive into how you can protect your mental health and relationships when the world feels intractably divided. In this episode, you will discover: •

The "Meta Rule" Trap: How "Us versus Them" thinking turns loved ones into enemies and creates a zero-sum game in your living room

• The Conflation Rule: Why we mistakenly judge a person’s entire moral character based on a single political issue—and how to stop doing it

• Affirmative vs. Prohibitive Thinking: How to move away from "prohibitive voting" and fear-based reactions toward a focus on your actual values

• The "Uncle Jimmy" Strategy: Concrete techniques for navigating high-conflict discussions at Thanksgiving or the dinner table

• Separating Person from Behavior: The essential psychological principle that allows you to respect the person even when you attack the idea Stop letting the election cycle dictate your mood, energy, and life satisfaction.

If you find yourself trapped in "black and white" thinking or struggling with the "trauma response" of modern politics, it’s time to rewrite the rules of your own framework.

Take the next step toward relational health and internal clarity. If the stress of the current political environment is disrupting your balance, schedule an appointment today to learn how to apply these tools specifically to your life and unique family dynamics.

Most people treat conflict like it’s radioactive avoiding it at all costs and unknowingly fast-tracking their relationship straight into frustration, resentment, and eventually… a full-blown emotional dumpster fire.

But here’s the truth: conflict is your biggest opportunity. When you learn how to do conflict—rather than letting conflict do you, your relationships become stronger, safer, and dramatically more satisfying.

In this first episode of The Framework Podcast, therapist and consultant David Waselkow and co-host Tyler Burke down the foundational elements of the Framework:

• the Why/What communication tool,
• affirmative vs. prohibitive thinking,
• why relationships are about rules, and
• how conflicts are actually rule disputes, nothing more and nothing less.

You’ll learn how to identify your needs, advocate for them without apology, and use rule proposals and rule negotiations to build clarity, safety, and connection. This is the groundwork for a relational skillset powerful enough to transform not just your marriage or partnership, but every important relationship in your life.

If you’re tired of fights that go nowhere, tired of walking on eggshells, or tired of watching relationships slowly erode, this episode gives you the tools and the mindset to change the game.

Welcome to the Framework. The more you change your thinking, the more you change your life.