We talk often about mindset and perspective—but sometimes the focus stays on what needs to change instead of how change actually happens.

As we return from a short break, we’re resurfacing this episode because it feels especially relevant and leads into an important youth mental health awareness conversation next week.

In this episode, we focus on common negative thinking patterns—often called mind traps—that many of us fall into without realizing it. We share relatable examples and practical ways to recognize these patterns with more awareness and compassion.

The 10 thinking patterns discussed:

All-or-Nothing Thinking · Overgeneralization · Mental Filter · Discounting the Positive · Jumping to Conclusions · Magnification/Minimization · Emotional Reasoning · “Should”-ing Yourself · Labeling · Personalization/Blame

This episode helps set context for next week, when we widen the lens and focus on awareness—looking at the numbers and scope of youth mental illness and trauma.

🎧 New episodes return next week.

“Theme Song created by Wendy Babcock / WHEN Stories™”

In this week’s episode, we explore what it means to honor family voices, especially during the holidays when traditions, expectations, and emotions can run high.

Using Christmas as our lens, we talk about having intentional conversations around what still matters, what needs to be let go of, and how to respect the needs of each individual. Honoring family voices doesn’t mean agreement—it means listening, acknowledging, and making space.

We also reference my Brainz Magazine article, “Honest Communication at Home – How Family Teaches Us Courageous Conversations,” and briefly discuss our upcoming course, Honoring Family Voices, and why this work matters for families navigating change and growth.

This episode is an invitation to reflect on how we communicate, celebrate, and stay connected during the holidays and beyond.

https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/honest-communication-at-home-how-family-teaches-us-courageous-conversations

“Theme Song created by Wendy Babcock / WHEN Stories™”

This week’s episode builds on our conversation about The Consequences of Disrupting Family Patterns and moves into a deeper, more personal layer: the emotional impact of estrangement within a family system.

Estrangement often carries a story of rupture, but the emotional reality is far more complex. In this episode, we talk about the mix of feelings that emerge when distance becomes part of a family system, including grief, guilt, sadness, freedom, and gratitude. We explore how these emotional consequences can shift over time, especially when someone is breaking generational patterns or choosing boundaries as a path to healing family relationships.

We also share how we have each moved through different phases of family estrangement. What helped, what surprised us, and what we learned along the way. And woven throughout the conversation is the emotion that doesn’t always get named: hope. Hope that communication might return someday. Hope that repair is possible. Hope that the separation itself may hold meaning rather than shame.

If you’ve experienced estrangement, are considering distance as a family boundary, or are trying to make sense of the emotional layers that follow, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate look at the human experience behind the word. It’s a conversation about navigating the emotional landscape of estrangement. Not just the pain, but the possibility.

“Theme Song created by Wendy Babcock / WHEN Stories™”