Why Your Mind Builds a Case Against You and How to Push Back | Owen Fitzpatrick

Have you ever noticed how a low mood can make everything in your life look worse, even when nothing has changed? In this episode, Owen Fitzpatrick explores “inner propaganda”: the convincing stories our minds tell us that turn self-doubt and difficult emotions into seemingly undeniable truths. Drawing from his book, Inner Propaganda, and his own experience with depression, Owen explains why our brains gather evidence to support how we already feel, and explores how questioning those stories, taking small actions, and bringing some humor to our inner dialogue can help us navigate difficult days without believing everything we think. A Weekly Bite of Wisdom: Want to go deeper with the ideas we explore on The One You Feed? Every Wednesday, Eric shares a short, practical email that turns insights about mental health, relationships, purpose, habits, and personal growth into simple practices you can use right away. You’ll also receive our Weekend Podcast Playlist featuring a recap of the week’s episodes. It’s free, takes about a minute to read, and is enjoyed by thousands of readers each week. Sign up at oneyoufeed.net/newsletter. Key Takeaways: Why negative thinking can feel like an accurate view of reality, making it difficult to recognize and question. How “mood congruent cognition” leads your brain to seek out memories and evidence that reinforce your emotional state. Why feeling certain about a thought doesn’t necessarily make it true—and how that certainty can become a cue to pause. How asking questions you can honestly answer can loosen self-doubt without forcing positive affirmations. Why working with thoughts, tending to emotions, and taking action offer different ways to respond when you’re struggling. How humor and patience can help you take painful thoughts less seriously and avoid feeling worse about feeling bad. To learn more, click here! If you enjoyed this conversation with Owen Fitzpatrick, check out these other episodes: How to Quiet the Inner Critic and Finally Get Unstuck with Michelle Chalfant How to Tame Your Inner Critic with Dr. Aziz Gazipura This episode is sponsored by: Ka’Chava is your daily all-in-one shake, with protein, fiber, greens, superfoods, vitamins, minerals, omega-3s, probiotics, and more. Go to KaChava.com and use code FEED for 15% off your first order. David Protein bars deliver up to 28g of protein for just 150 calories—without sacrificing taste! For a limited time, our listeners can receive this special deal: buy 4 cartons and get the 5th free when you go to www.davidprotein.com/FEED Bilt: Your biggest monthly expense could help fund your next adventure. With Bilt, earn points on rent or mortgage payments and redeem them for flights, hotels, and more. Join Bilt through our link and download the app to explore your member benefits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices