How To Reset Your Mind for Calm & Control

In today’s episode, you’re going to learn how to turn your comfort zone into a powerful tool that fuels your success.

Your comfort zone is not a place of weakness—it’s actually a place for growth. 

Today, you’ll discover how and when to use it so you can feel more calm, confident and optimistic about your life. 

You’ll know when to press pause in your life so you can recharge, and build the strength to take on your biggest challenges.

Based in science, Mel will explain how everyday comforts—whether it’s your favorite cozy blanket or your go-to spot on the couch—can actually make you more resilient and help you break through self-sabotage, fear, and resistance. 

Plus, you’ll hear from world-renowned Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Robert Waldinger, who shares the surprising science behind comfort rituals and why they’re essential for staying grounded in a chaotic world.

It’s time to unlock the power of your comfort zone so you can truly create a better life.

If you liked this episode and want to learn exactly what to do to discover your authentic self (at any age), listen to this episode next: How to Build Real Confidence: 7 Truths to Unlock Your Authentic Self

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• Disclaimer

In this episode:

• 7:13: Why revisiting your comfort zone can help you break free from it.
• 12:37: The power of comfort: why it’s the key to building a better life.
• 18:40: Mel’s 19-year-old son shares how he brings comfort to college life.
• 21:06: This is what happens to your brain when you find comfort.
• 28:27: How to know when to push yourself and when to take a break.
• 34:04: When did you last relax? Why your brain and body need comfort to thrive.
• 36:32: Harvard’s Dr. Waldinger on why rest is crucial for refueling.
• 44:05: Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, try this mindfulness exercise.
• 49:07: Comfort isn’t weakness: it’s essential for your well-being. 

Dr. Robert Waldinger:

• Buy his book: The Good Life.
• Follow him on Facebook.
• And on Instagram.
• Watch his wildly popular TED Talk.
• Check out his bio. 

Resources:

• University of California, San Francisco: The power of deep rest
• Journal of Education and Health Promotion: Restorative yoga therapy for third-year medical students in pediatrics rotation
• American Psychological Association: The power of the relaxation response
• International Collegiate Journal of Science: The Positives of Plushies: Stuffed Animals Have Benefits for Children and Adults
• The Gottman Institute: How a Parent’s Affection Shapes a Child’s Happiness for Life
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Science: Childhood abuse, parental warmth, and adult multisystem biological risk in the Coronary Artery Risk Development
• University of Miami: Emotional Regulation Through Self-Soothing Techniques
• PLOS Medicine:  Mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in adults in nonclinical settings.
• The Association of Nutrition & Food Service Professionals: The Brain Science Behind Comfort Foods
• Psychology Today: The Neuroscience of Comforting Behavior in Times of Distress
• Time Magazine: How Cuddly Comfort Objects May Help Adults with Anxiety
• PLOS One: A calming hug: Design and validation of a tactile aid to ease anxiety
• Frontiers in Psychology: Resilience and stress as mediators of happiness.
• The New York Times: What makes some people more resilient than others?‍
• British J of Clinical Psych: Link between emotional regulation and loneliness.