In this episode, I unpack why feeling stuck in your thinking does not mean something is wrong with you. It means your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

I explore how familiar stories form in the mind, why confirmation bias keeps reinforcing the same beliefs, and how those patterns quietly shape what we notice, avoid, and believe is possible for us.

This conversation is about learning to recognize thoughts as information rather than facts, softening the grip of old narratives, and creating space for growth without forcing change or self-judgment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The brain prioritizes familiarity because it feels safer than uncertainty

• Confirmation bias filters information to protect existing beliefs

• Stress and overwhelm intensify rigid thinking patterns

• Thoughts are information, not instructions or facts

• Absolute language often signals a belief that needs updating

• Old stories were once protective, even if they no longer serve you

• Growth requires awareness before it requires action

• Asking what else might be true opens cognitive flexibility

• Safe reflection from others can help reveal blind spots

• Updating beliefs expands capacity and reduces internal friction

Links and Resources:

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

The Happy Stack Newsletter: https://happystack.substack.com/

Success Takes Courage Book: https://a.co/d/dgOqpbj

Becoming the Eight Percent Book: https://a.co/d/gcqxerH

If this episode helped you notice the stories running in your own mind, share it with someone who feels stuck or discouraged right now.

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• (00:00:01) - How to Stick to a Happy Life
• (00:03:33) - Confirmation bias: How to Keep a Comfortable Narrative in
• (00:13:38) - How to Start to Live a Happier Life