Most advice about forgiveness is shallow. Forgive and forget. Turn the other cheek. Time heals all wounds.
None of that helps you actually heal or make wise choices. For the most part, those sayings are....crap.
In this conversation, Dr. Mark Mayfield and Jonathan unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in mental health: the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. They explore why quick forgiveness can backfire, how to set boundaries that protect your future, and what true self-forgiveness really looks like.
If you’ve ever struggled to forgive, or felt pressure to reconcile before you were ready, this one will hit home.
What You’ll Learn
Forgiveness frees you internally. Reconciliation is relational and optional
Why fast forgiveness can be avoidance in disguise
How to forgive without forgetting
Boundaries that protect your peace
A simple framework for self-forgiveness
How to know if reconciliation is healthy or harmful
Reflection Framework: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Internal / Self-Forgiveness
Ask yourself:
• What am I still carrying that isn’t mine to carry?
• What guilt or self-blame keeps looping in my thoughts?
• What would releasing that weight make space for in my life?
• What would it look like to forgive myself and move forward with strength?
External / Relational Forgiveness
Ask yourself:
• What boundaries do I need in order to forgive safely?
• Does this person show signs of genuine change or accountability?
• What would reconciliation realistically look like, and do I want that?
• Can I forgive without reopening the same wound?
Remember:
Forgiveness is about your freedom.
Reconciliation is about rebuilding trust — and that takes two people.
Tools Mentioned
• The One Person Challenge — Identify one person, including yourself, where you can release a small piece of resentment this week.
• The Unsent Letter — Write what you need to say. Don’t send it. Reflect. Then release it.
Resources
Visit mentalhealthmadesimple.life for articles, tools, and expanded reflections that make mental health simple to understand and apply.
Catch replays, read blog companions to each episode, and explore our comprehensive needs assessment.
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It helps us bring mental health conversations to more people who need them.
Disclaimer
This podcast is not counseling and should not replace working with a licensed professional.
Our goal is to simplify mental health, offer tools for reflection, and help you take your next right step toward health.
If you’re in crisis or need immediate support, reach out to a qualified professional or contact your local resources.
Reframing “safe spaces” from emotional escape to practical resilience and growth.
Most people think a safe space is where you run to feel better. But what if the way we talk about safety is actually keeping us stuck—isolated, anxious, and disconnected from real growth?
In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Mark Mayfield and Jonathan dismantle the cultural buzzword of safe spaces and reframe it with language that promotes resilience, emotional regulation, and grounded engagement instead of avoidance. This isn’t about eliminating safety—it’s about redefining it as an anchor point that helps you stabilize, process, and re-enter life with strength and clarity.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
The Hidden Problem with “Safe Spaces” – how culture turned safety into emotional avoidance
Safe People vs. Safe Places – why who you trust matters more than where you retreat
Feelings vs. Reality – how to validate your emotions without letting them lead your life
What Ego Strength Really Is and why developing it changes how you navigate every relationship
Anchoring Practices – simple tools to regulate anxiety without disconnecting from reality
The One Question to Ask Yourself Before You Retreat: “Am I here to recharge, or am I hiding?”
👉 The goal isn’t to escape life—it’s to engage with it more effectively.
Key Takeaways
Safe places are tools, not destinations. They’re designed for restoration, not isolation.
Avoidance masquerades as protection. True safety helps you re-enter life stronger.
Your feelings matter—but they cannot be the entire truth. Learn to regulate, not react.
Resilience comes from engagement, not withdrawal.
Practical Steps From This Episode:
Identify anchor points in your life (a physical object, personal values, grounding statements)
Ask: “Is this a pause or a hiding place?”
Reevaluate relationships based on reciprocity and safety, not convenience
Use micro-actions (a text, an email, a conversation) to disrupt avoidance patterns
Episode Chapters
Disclaimer
Mental Health Made Simple provides education and tools for your mental health journey. It is not therapy, nor a substitute for counseling or medical treatment. If you are seeking clinical support, we encourage you to connect with a licensed counselor.
Resources & Next Steps
Explore tools, resources, and upcoming webinars: mentalhealthmadesimple.life
Questions about counseling or how to start? Email us—we’ll help guide your next step.
If this episode brought you clarity, leave a rating and review. It helps more people find hope and grounded mental health.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely recommended forms of therapy, yet most people either misunderstand it or think it’s a mental bootcamp designed to break them down.
Spoiler: it doesn’t involve deadlifts, sweat angels, or reliving your childhood trauma while doing burpees.
As the world continues to focus on mental health awareness throughout October, following World Mental Health Day, this conversation is timely for anyone seeking better tools to manage anxiety, negative thoughts, perfectionism, or emotional overwhelm.
We unpack the real science behind CBT and show how small shifts in your thoughts can completely transform your emotions, behaviors, and long-term mental resilience.
What's in the episode:
Why CBT isn't about toughness or emotional bootcamp
How thoughts trigger feelings and behaviors—and how to interrupt negative cycles
The most common cognitive distortions (like catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking)
Practical tools like thought records, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral activation
How to use CBT methods in everyday life to reduce anxiety and self-sabotage
Chapters
0:00 – Setting the stage: Why CBT matters right now
2:15 – What CBT is not (the CrossFit analogy)
5:30 – The core concept of cognitive behavioral therapy
10:45 – How thoughts create emotional responses
15:20 – Identifying cognitive distortions
21:00 – Tools that rewire your thought patterns
26:30 – What makes a great therapist fit (and how to ask)
31:45 – Practical CBT exercises you can start using today
35:10 – Final encouragement: moving from stuck to aligned
Resources & Next Steps
Visit MentalHealthMadeSimple.life to access tools, upcoming workshops, and resources designed to make mental health concepts easy to understand and apply in everyday life.
Please follow and leave a review — it helps more people discover practical mental health tools.
Share this episode with someone who is struggling with anxiety or negative self-talk.
New episodes drop weekly to simplify mental health, one conversation at a time.
Perfectionism feels productive—but underneath it drives anxiety, burnout, and all-or-nothing thinking. In this episode, Jonathan and Dr. Mark Mayfield unpack their own stories, share practical therapy tools, and show you how to trade perfection for consistency.
You’ll learn:
Why perfectionism often masks control and fear
The hidden cost: anxiety spikes, depressive spirals, and burnout
How CBT tools like thought records and cognitive restructuring work
The “90% Rule” and other simple shifts that create freedom
Chapters
00:00 – Why perfectionism feels safe but keeps us stuck04:00 – Control, anxiety, and when perfection backfires10:00 – Perfection, depression, and the all-or-nothing trap15:00 – CBT in plain English: thoughts, feelings, behaviors22:00 – Tools: thought records, restructuring, behavioral activation30:00 – Healthy feedback: “When I do __, how do you experience me?”38:00 – Consistency vs. perfection: what really sustains growth44:00 – Final reflections + one next step you can take today
“You don’t have to be perfect. Be what most aren’t—consistent, determined, and willing to do the work.” - Tom Brady
Resources
Related episode: Burnout
If this conversation helped, share it with a friend and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts. On Spotify, drop us a question—we read them all.
Most people don’t ask for therapy until life hits crisis mode. But what if you knew the signs earlier—before everything crashes?
In this episode of the Mental Health Made Simple Podcast, Jonathan and Dr. Mark Mayfield get real about the first steps toward therapy:
How to know when “something’s off” and it’s time to talk to someone
Why sustained emotional struggles (not just bad days) matter
The difference between “general” therapy and specialized approaches
What to expect from your first sessions (and why two visits isn’t enough)
How to handle it if your therapist isn’t a good fit
The role medication can play—and why it’s never a silver bullet
Why a psychological evaluation might be the single best investment in your mental health
You’ll also hear personal stories, honest mistakes, and lessons learned the hard way—like why therapy is less about “being fixed” and more about learning tools you didn’t even know you needed.
If you’re on the fence about therapy, this episode is for you.
We brag about overwork like it proves our worth — but it’s killing us. Jonathan and Dr. Mark unpack why burnout isn’t strength, what it really does to your body and mind, and how recovery rhythms can protect you before it’s too late.
Burnout isn’t just being tired. It’s your mind, body, and spirit throwing the emergency brake. Yet in our culture, we still brag about 60+ hour weeks, skipping vacations, and answering emails at midnight like it’s some badge of honor.
In this episode of the Mental Health Made Simple Podcast, Jonathan Collier and Dr. Mark Mayfield cut through the noise and get raw about:
Why hustle culture lies to us about worth and success
The Gallup data showing just how common burnout has become
Jonathan’s personal crash-and-burn story — and the cost it carried
The emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral warning signs you can’t afford to ignore
Practical recovery rhythms that can help you pull back before it’s too late
This is not just theory. Burnout will rob your health, your relationships, and your sense of self. The good news? It doesn’t have to. This conversation will give you tools to recognize the signs early and reclaim a healthier, more sustainable way of living.
Book recommendation: Anti-Burnout by Alan Briggs
Follow us on YouTube and social media (@MentalHealthMadeSimple)
Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help others find these conversations
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. If this conversation stirs anything heavy for you, you are not alone — and help is available right now:
U.S.: Call or text 988 or chat via 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support 24/7. If you are in immediate danger, dial 911.
Outside the U.S.: Visit Befrienders Worldwide or Suicide Stop to find international hotlines.
Reaching out is not weakness — it’s courage. You matter.
Stress is everywhere. For most of us, it’s so normal we don’t even notice it anymore. But here’s the truth: while you can’t eliminate stress from life, you can learn to regulate it so it doesn’t run the show.
In this episode of the Mental Health Made Simple Podcast, Dr. Mark Mayfield and Jonathan Collier have a candid conversation about what stress really is, how it shows up in our daily lives, and why not all stress is bad. They explore:
The difference between positive stress and negative stress
Practical ways to check in on your stress levels (sleep, screen time, diet, etc.)
The stress loop—and how to break out of it before it spirals
Why regulation matters more than elimination
Simple daily resets (from short walks to better sleep hygiene) that actually work
The power of curiosity in managing stress and building healthier rhythms
This isn’t about hacks or quick fixes—it’s about sustainable, practical steps that help you show up better for yourself and those you care about.
Resources & Links
Follow us on YouTube and social media for more conversations and tools (@MentalHealthMadeSimple)
Try the Calm App (not sponsored)—great for short daily resets
Subscribe, rate, and review on Spotify or iTunes to help others find the show
New Year’s resolutions fizzle. Goals get abandoned. Overwhelm wins. In this episode, Dr. Mark Mayfield and Jonathan Collier break down a simpler way to build real, sustainable change—without trying to “white-knuckle” your life.
They unpack why traditional goal-setting fails, Why goal setting is broken, how to shift from a fixed to a growth mindset, and what tiny, repeatable habits do inside your brain to make new behavior feel natural over time.
You’ll get super practical ideas (like phasing out soda the smart way), how to reduce overwhelm with rhythms (not “balance”), and why bringing one trusted person into your plan changes everything.
Why most goals fail (and what to do instead)
Fixed vs. growth mindset (Carol Dweck) in real life
Tiny habits, compounding gains (James Clear)
Overwhelm: how to shrink it, not “power through” it
Neural pathways 101: machete a new trail, then keep walking it
Rhythms > balance: adapting to life’s sets and lulls
Counseling vs. coaching—different tools, different jobs
Pick ONE lever: Choose a single small habit that moves the needle (e.g., replace your 1st soda with flavored water/Poppi/Zevia).
Work backward: Set a realistic horizon (then add ~30% more time). Define what 6 months, 90 days, 30 days, and tomorrow look like.
Don’t miss twice: If you skip a day, simply win the next one.
Time-box the stuck: Set a 45-minute timer to sit with hard tasks (train your “stick-with-it” muscle).
Bring a human: Tell one safe person your plan and ask for encouragement check-ins.
Who is the version of me I want to shake hands with a year from now?
What’s one 1% habit that would make the biggest difference over time?
When do I tend to quit—what’s my “don’t miss twice” plan?
Who will I invite to walk with me (friend, mentor, counselor)?
Atomic Habits — James Clear
Mindset — Carol Dweck
Catherine Wolf (talks/books referenced)
Alternatives for soda: Zevia, Poppi, flavored/sparkling water
This podcast is not a substitute for counseling. If you need help finding a therapist, check the show notes for starter links or reach out—we’re glad to point you in the right direction.
If this episode helped, share it with a friend, leave a rating/review, and subscribe so you never miss what’s next.
Ever feel like you're ignoring warning signs—just turning up the volume and hoping the noise goes away?
You're not alone.
In this honest and hopeful conversation, Dr. Mark Mayfield and Jonathan Collier unpack the stigma that still surrounds mental health. Using real stories (including one involving duct tape and a dashboard light), they explore how stigma keeps us stuck—and what it takes to move forward. This episode sets the foundation for how we can shift our mindset from shame to ownership and from surviving to healing.
Whether you're brand new to this conversation or deep in your mental wellness journey, this episode will speak to you.
What stigma actually is—and why it sticks
Why many of us ignore our mental health like a squeaky car
How language like “my anxiety” shapes our identity and behavior
The problem with labels, diagnoses, and insurance-driven care
The importance of curiosity over judgment
How to take small steps toward self-awareness and wellness
Try this journaling prompt: “How am I doing… really?”
Use the H.A.L.T. check-in: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired?
Reframe your diagnosis: You are not your anxiety, depression, or ADHD
Challenge your inner narrative—replace labels with ownership
Make mental hygiene a daily rhythm, like brushing your teeth
This podcast does not replace therapy. It’s designed to support your journey alongside professional help.
If you or someone you know needs immediate support, please seek help from a licensed counselor or call a local crisis line.
If this episode resonated with you:
Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
Leave us a 5-star rating on Apple or Spotify
Share this episode with a friend who could use encouragement
“The stigma around mental health is like duct tape on the check engine light—eventually, something breaks.”
Ever feel like there’s way too much mental health advice online, yet you’re still stuck?
In this episode, we unpack why mental health feels so overwhelming in the age of constant content and influencer “hacks.” Jonathan and Dr. Mark explore:
✅ Why mental health often feels complicated (when it doesn’t have to be)
✅ The difference between accessibility and true accessibility
✅ Why “one-size-fits-all” advice can hurt more than help
✅ Practical ways to filter what’s actually helpful for your mental wellness
✅ Why learning to ask better questions is key to growth
You don’t need to wait for a crisis to start caring for your mental health. Small steps count, and clarity is possible—no matter how loud the noise gets.
Resources Mentioned:
MentalHealthMadeSimple.life for free resources and newsletters
Want to go deeper?
Subscribe to Mental Health Made Simple wherever you listen.
Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review to help others find practical mental health tools.
Share this episode with a friend who’s tired of influencer overwhelm and wants clarity.
Feeling overwhelmed by mental health advice?
You’re not alone. This episode kicks off the Mental Health Made Simple Podcast, where Dr. Mark Mayfield (Counselor, Author, Professor, Coach, and sought after Speaker) and Jonathan Collier (Entrepreneur, Brand and leadership Coach & Consultant, and Mental Health Practitioner) break down why mental health doesn’t need to be complicated, crunchy, or crisis-only to matter.
A few topics we'll talk about:
Mental Health Made Simple isn’t therapy, but it’s a step toward understanding yourself and others without the overwhelm.
🎧 Listen anywhere you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube.
Explore resources: https://mentalhealthmadesimple.life
Subscribe for practical, real mental health conversations without the fluff.
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