If you’ve ever struggled with pain—whether it’s physical or emotional—this episode is for you. I sit down with Michael Ostrolenk, a longtime resilience and conscious relationship coach, to explore how pain is more than just something to “get through.” We look at how pain can be a signal for growth, and how reshaping your mindset can actually transform your relationship with difficult experiences.
Michael shares his unique childhood story of bypassing quick-fix solutions and instead learning self-mastery, meditation, and biofeedback. You’ll hear about the real difference between pushing pain away and actually sitting with it, plus why building resilience isn’t just individual, but also deeply relational and even communal.
Two practical takeaways you’ll discover:
How to tell if you’re truly being resilient versus just ignoring your pain.
Simple steps for creators and podcasters to build supportive relationships for facing life’s tough moments.
If you want a thoughtful, grounded perspective on pain—and what it really means to grow through it—you’ll want to tune in.
Connect with Michael Ostrolenk
Website:https://michaeldostrolenk.com/
Twitter:https://x.com/mostrolenk
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-ostrolenk-ma
If Observeday inspires you, subscribe so you never miss an episode. Your review and support help more people discover these stories.
Get more than what you hear—join the Observeday newsletter for thoughtful takeaways, extras, and personal notes that don’t make it into the show.
Sign up here: https://observeday.com/join
Chapters
00:00 Welcoming Listeners and Pain Awareness Month
00:23 Michael’s Early Journey With Resilience
02:44 Discovering Meditation and Self-Mastery
04:08 Evolving Relationship With Pain
06:18 Defining Pain Beyond the Physical
09:05 Emotional Pain and Energy Flow
11:03 What Resilience Is (and Isn’t)
13:20 Sitting With Pain vs. Ignoring It
14:34 When Avoidance Is Sometimes Necessary
15:56 Optimizing the Physical System for Resilience
17:16 Relationship and Interpersonal Resilience
19:25 Community and Leadership as Resilience
20:48 Advice for Listeners in Pain
22:18 Where to Find Michael’s Work
22:47 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps