Just because your eyes are open doesn’t mean you’re awake.

Many of us move through our days alert, productive, and busy while still feeling disconnected from the moment we’re in. Our bodies show up, but our attention drifts. We respond, scroll, and rush on autopilot, mistaking motion for presence.

In this episode, we explore what true wakefulness actually means and why modern life makes it harder to access.

We talk about:

• The difference between being alert and being truly present
• Common signs you’re running on autopilot
• Why constant stimulation erodes clarity
• How quiet and stillness can sharpen awareness
• Simple ways to practice wakefulness in everyday life

This episode continues the Season 2 theme of slowing down, noticing what’s actually happening beneath the surface, and gently returning to yourself when attention drifts.

Looking for additional information? Read the blog article: Discover True Wakefulness: How To Be Fully Present Every Day

Support the show

Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI

If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page.

Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens.
Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources.

Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts!

⚠️ Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

Loneliness doesn’t always look the way we expect.

You can be surrounded by people, busy schedules, and familiar faces and still feel deeply disconnected. In this episode, I explore an important distinction most of us were never taught: the difference between feeling lonely and experiencing loneliness.

Lonely is a temporary emotional signal.
Loneliness is a longer-term state tied to belonging and connection.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why you can feel lonely even when you’re not alone
• How loneliness differs from momentary disconnection
• Why comparison and expectations intensify these feelings
• How to respond to lonely moments with care instead of judgment
• What it takes to heal loneliness over time

This is the first episode of Season 2. If you’ve ever wondered why connection can feel missing even in a full room, this conversation is for you.

Want to learn more? Read the blog article: Lonely In A Crowd: Why You Can Feel Disconnected And How To Heal Loneliness

Support the show

Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI

If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page.

Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens.
Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources.

Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts!

⚠️ Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.

We don’t quit our goals because we lack motivation. We quit because we build them on pressure, fear, and unrealistic definitions of success. In this episode, Chris breaks down why New Year’s resolutions fail, how rigid goal-setting quietly fuels burnout, and what it looks like to set goals that actually survive real life.

Chris shares personal examples from mental health, endurance training, creative work, and unfinished goals, then introduce a more flexible approach built on clarity, consistency, and adaptation.

This episode also introduces The Mental Lens Goal Setting Framework, a practical system for setting sustainable goals, and connects these ideas to his book Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI. If goal setting has ever left you discouraged instead of motivated, this episode is your reset.

You can also read the blog post for more insights and access the Goal Setting Framework: Revamp Your Goal-Setting: Sustainable Strategies Beyond New Year Resolutions

Support the show

Looking for more insights? Check out my book, Still Human: Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI

If you are looking for more information on mental health support, check out our Mental Health Resources page.

Dive deeper and subscribe to the newsletter at The Mental Lens.
Short essays and practical frameworks on mental health, boundaries, and decision-making at work.Built for humans navigating complexity, not hustling harder. Includes early access to tools, essays, and select subscriber-only resources.

Follow and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or whever you get your podcasts!

⚠️ Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional if you need support.