Do you feel like you've done everything right, but still feel empty inside? That bone-deep emotional tiredness that no amount of sleep can fix? The quiet disconnection from yourself and what truly matters?

If you're in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or beyond—someone who's spent their life taking care of others, holding it all together, but somewhere along the way lost touch with themselves—this episode is for you.

Dr. Elisha Goldstein addresses something he's heard countless times from clients, friends, and family: "I don't think I'm broken, but I do feel like I abandoned myself a long time ago."

The truth? You're not broken. You've just learned protective patterns that once kept you safe but may now be keeping you stuck.

Dr. Goldstein shares the invisible moments where we silence our needs, override our bodies, and stay busy to avoid what's really there. More importantly, he offers practical "tiny shifts" from his upcoming book that can gently guide you back home to yourself.

In this episode, you'll discover:

✅ Why self-abandonment happens in small, invisible moments over time

✅ How saying yes when you mean no became a survival strategy

✅ The three tiny shifts that can bring you back to yourself

✅ Why naming your patterns is the beginning of changing them

✅ How to speak to yourself like someone you love

✅ Why you're never too old or too far gone to reconnect with your life

⏱Timestamps:

00:00 – The Invisible Moments We Lose Ourselves

01:00 – You're Not Broken: Understanding Self-Abandonment

02:00 – How We Abandon Ourselves in Small Ways

03:00 – Protective Patterns That Keep Us Hostage

04:00 – Tiny Shifts for Emotional Health

05:00 – Shift #1: Recognize Your Emotional Loop

05:44 – Newsletter Break

06:24 – Shift #2: Use Your Breath to Ground

07:00 – A Personal Story of Overwhelm

08:00 – From Survival Mode to Strength

09:00 – Real Stories of Transformation

10:00 – You're Not Too Old to Change

11:00 – Starting with One Breath

11:47 – Closing & Resources

🌱Ready to stop abandoning yourself? This episode is just the beginning. Dr. Goldstein's upcoming book Tiny Shifts (2026) explores the small pivots that create the biggest impacts on your stress, relationships, and longevity.

🔗Resources & Support: 📧 Join Dr. Goldstein's Free Newsletter: Get weekly insights, tiny shifts for emotional health, and instant access to free guides including "5 AI Prompts to Ease Anxiety" and "4 Steps to Process Difficult Emotions"

🌟 Ready to Go Deeper? Join the Emotional Longevity Experience: Work with Dr. Goldstein and a supportive community in his therapeutic coaching program

Connect with Dr. Elisha Goldstein: 📸 Instagram

🔗 LinkedIn ▶ YouTube: /elishagoldsteinphd

🔗 Sign Up for Email Newsletter & Get the Emotional Health Guide

🔗 View Full Blog for This Episode

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If you've ever felt stuck knowing what to do but struggling to actually do it—this conversation will give you both hope and practical wisdom.

Dr. Elisha Goldstein sits down with Eric Zimmer, host of The One You Feed podcast, for an honest exploration of change, self-sabotage, and emotional steadiness. Eric brings both professional insight from interviewing hundreds of experts and the raw authenticity of someone who went from homeless heroin addiction to hosting one of the most impactful podcasts on personal growth.

🔹 In this episode, we explore:

The moment hope returned in Eric's darkest period—and why "keep coming back" became his mantra

Why the Two Wolves parable serves as a daily compass

The truth about why we struggle to receive good things and take compliments

Eric's Six Saboteurs of Self-Control—the hidden patterns that keep us stuck

Why "little by little" beats dramatic change every time

The difference between structural change and emotional resistance

How AI is changing our relationship with intelligence and intimacy

Why there's no "right" path for everyone—and how to find what works for you

💡 Key Insight: Change happens "little bit by little bit"—even dramatic transformations are built on thousands of small daily decisions.

⏱ Chapters:

00:00 A Life in Ruins: My Story of Addiction

00:24 The Struggle of Self-Improvement

01:00 Introducing Eric Zimmer: A Journey of Transformation

04:25 The Power of Hope in Recovery

13:04 The Two Wolves: A Guiding Compass

19:52 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Resistance

32:43 Overcoming Resistance: Just Start

33:31 Newsletter Invitation

34:11 Awareness and Action: Bridging the Gap

34:57 Diagnosing Resistance and Procrastination

38:08 The Role of Self-Compassion and Growth Mindset

42:57 Small Steps to Build Motivation

45:12 AI and Emotional Health

57:50 Reflections on Emotional Health and Personal Growth

01:04:08 Conclusion and Community Invitation

01:06:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🔗 Resources

✨ Get Eric's Six Saboteurs of Self-Control (Free)

🎧 The One You Feed Podcast: Available on all platforms

🌱 Dr. Goldstein's Tools:

Therapeutic Coaching (Free Consult)

Newsletter & Free Guide

Connect:

Instagram

LinkedIn

🔗 Full Blog

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.