How to Break the Cycle of Stuckness: Why Familiar Pain Feels Safer Than Unfamiliar Change

What if your words are the most powerful diet you’ll ever be on?In this episode of Change Made Easy, I talk with Kyle Smith about why words are the macronutrients of the mind, and how they quietly shape our self-belief, our actions, and our future.We explore:The danger of “soft talk” and the power of solid language.Why micro-decisions build confidence and momentum.Kyle’s 4-step framework for decluttering painful stories.The difference between victim mentality and victor mentality.Why writing your stories down gives you the leverage to change your life.If you’ve ever struggled with indecision, old narratives, or feeling stuck, this episode gives you the tools to start moving forward today.

We hear it all the time: “Get uncomfortable.”But what if discomfort isn’t the key to growth? What if the real issue is familiarity?In this solo episode, Paul explores how staying stuck in the familiar—even when it’s painful—is the #1 reason people can’t change. Whether it’s relationships, routines, or recurring patterns, your brain will always choose the known over the unknown… until you choose differently.🎯 You’ll Learn:Why you keep repeating habits that don’t help youHow your brain confuses familiarity with safetyWhy “hard” doesn’t always mean “helpful”The one phrase that helped Paul finally grow (personally + relationally)How to use “getting unfamiliar” to unlock progress in any area📎 Resources:Listen to: Why Is Change So Hard?Want help creating real, lasting change? Book a free strategy call: [Insert Link]Subscribe to Change Made Easy and follow @changemadeeasy on InstagramLeave a 5-star review to support the show!

What if the biggest obstacle in your health, relationships, or career isn’t lack of strategy—but the lies you believe about yourself?In this episode of Change Made Easy, I sit down with Mitchell Osmond, speaker, coach, and host of the Dad Nation podcast. Mitchell helps high performers reclaim their home, health, and happiness by exposing the toxic mental scripts that drive self-sabotage.We explore:The 5 most common lies people believe—and why they keep you stuck.Mitchell’s CLEAR framework for identifying and replacing those lies.Why courage feels different from confidence—and why you can’t be courageous and comfortable at the same time.How to stop living in the “gap” and start living in the “gain.”If you’ve ever felt like you keep hitting the same wall again and again, this conversation will give you the tools to finally break free.Resources & Links:Mitchell’s free gift: The Connection CodeThe Dad Nation Podcast

Laziness. It’s one of the harshest labels you can give someone—or yourself. But what if laziness isn’t bad? What if it’s… functional? Strategic? Even brilliant?In this episode, Paul challenges everything you think you know about laziness. Instead of fighting it, what if you could build your life around it—and become happier, healthier, and more successful in the process?💡 You’ll Learn:Why laziness is built into your biology (and that’s not a bad thing)The cultural myths around productivity and overworkThe work-life tradeoffs Paul refused to make—and whyHow “lazy” decisions created more time, energy, and peaceHow to apply “intentional laziness” to your habits, business, and life📎 Resources:Free weekly newsletterFree coaching call with Paul

What if the biggest shift you could make in your life was also the simplest—taking full ownership?In this episode of Change Made Easy, I sit down with Tony Schmaltz, “The Upgrade Coach,” author of Wake the Bleep Up, and host of the "Wake The BLEEP Up" podcast. Tony is on a mission to help 10 million people upgrade their lives by breaking free from programming and embracing responsibility.We explore:Why taking responsibility—even when it’s “not your fault”—is the key to freedom.The journaling exercise Tony uses to help clients stop blaming and complaining.The role of programming in shaping your confidence and decision-making.How to use an accomplishment journal to celebrate small wins and build momentum.Why acknowledging others transforms both relationships and self-belief.This episode will challenge the way you see yourself—and unlock the tools to start upgrading your life today.

You’re trying to get healthier. Or start a podcast. Or build a business. But every time you start, it feels like the goal breaks into a thousand little pieces—and before long, you’re overwhelmed and quitting again.Here we share the two most important (and most overlooked) elements of any behavior change: foundational skills and cornerstone habits.🎯 What You’ll Learn:Why “simple” goals get complicated fastHow to stop the overwhelm before it startsWhat foundational skills make change sustainableHow to identify the few habits that make everything else easier📎 Resources & Mentions:Linked episode: 30 Days to Eliminate Self-SabotageWant 1-on-1 help building your foundation? Book a free coaching callPartner: MyBodyTutor.com — Get $50 off your first month with code “PAUL”🎙️ Subscribe to Change Made Easy and leave a review if this helped you reframe your approach to change!

What if the difference between burnout and balance is as simple as the words you say to yourself?In this episode of Change Made Easy, I sit down with Judy Belmont, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of 110 CBT Tips and Tools. Judy has spent over 40 years helping people transform negative self-talk, reframe stress, and find peace of mind.We explore:Why stress isn’t always bad—and how chasing meaning makes it powerful.The role of ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) in anxiety and depression.Judy’s ABCDE framework for challenging irrational thoughts.Why forgiveness—especially self-forgiveness—is the missing link for many.How to shift from being a victim of life to being a victor in life.If you’re ready to stop arguing with reality and start speaking to yourself with compassion, this episode is for you.Book a FREE Coaching call w Paul"Change Made Easy" Substack

You want to be healthier. You want to read more. You want to meditate or eat better or finally stick to your habits. So why can’t you?In this solo episode, Paul explains the #1 mistake most people make when trying to build new habits—and how to fix it with a simple, powerful reframe: make it so easy you can’t not do it.🔑 Key Takeaways:Why “doing it all” usually leads to doing nothingThe firehose analogy (and how it applies to behavior change)How to break habits into puzzle pieces instead of full overhaulsWhy small, repeatable actions beat big, unsustainable effortsHow to build momentum without relying on motivation🎯 Listener Challenge:Take one habit you've been struggling to build and cut it in half. Then cut it in half again. Start there.📎 Related Episodes:“What If Your Bad Habits Are Actually Good?”“The Secret to Unlimited Motivation (From Science)”📩 Want coaching support? Book a free call⭐ Like the show? Leave a review to help more people find it.

What does it really mean to trust yourself? Is fear just a byproduct of not knowing who you are—or who you could be?In this mind-bending interview, Paul sits down with Lawrence Yeo—creator of the illustrated blog More To That and author of The Inner Compass—to explore the tension between certainty and curiosity, mastery and status, and how to rewrite the internal scripts running your life.🔑 Topics we cover:How conditioning disguises itself as identityWhy curiosity is gratitude for the unknownThe true difference between confidence and self-trustHow to stress-test your intuition and stop living on autopilotWhy real creativity starts with agency—not art💬 Favorite Quotes:“Creativity is your birthright.”“Every fear is a fear of uncertainty.”“Mastery is the quest to improve for its own sake.”📘 Grab Lawrence’s book The Inner Compass:✍️ Read his work at MoreToThat.com🎯 Action Step: Start a 5-minute journal entry today—but ask why, not what.

If you’ve ever felt like your biggest enemy is yourself, this one’s for you.In this solo episode, I share my proven 30-day plan for eliminating self-sabotage using the SLUMP framework I’ve taught to hundreds of coaching clients. Whether you’re struggling with diet, fitness, business, or just following through on anything—you’ll finally understand why you keep stopping, and how to get back on track.💡 You’ll Learn:How "expectation language" poisons motivationWhy clarity matters more than perfectionHow to get comfortable with uncertainty without losing momentumThe hidden form of perfectionism that looks like “research” or “preparation”How to spot and shift self-sabotaging thoughts before they stop you📎 Resources:Linked episode: Why Is Change So Hard? on ⁠SPOTIFY⁠ and ⁠APPLE⁠⁠Book a free coaching session with Paul⁠Follow the show on Instagram @ChangeMadeEasyLeave a review if this episode hit home—it helps more than you know!