logo
episode-header-image
May 20
1 h

109: How to Rewire Your Brain to Get Uns...

Kelly Brogan MD
About this episode

Learn more about Dr. Kelly Brogan's signature health protocol, Vital Mind Reset here


You don’t have a mindset problem—you have a commitment problem.


In this episode, Kelly sits down with John Assaraf, one of the leading minds in brain retraining and behaviour change, to unpack the neuroscience of why we stay stuck—and how to finally break free. A New York Times bestselling author and featured expert from The Secret, John has built five multimillion-dollar businesses, overcome addiction, healed ulcerative colitis without medication, and transformed his relationship patterns—all using the exact tools he now teaches.


They cover why most people unconsciously choose to stay stuck, how self-talk wires your brain for failure or freedom, and why the Law of Attraction is useless without what John calls the “Law of G.O.Y.A.”. Whether you’re trying to quit sugar, start a business, or break lifelong emotional patterns, this conversation reveals the mechanics of meaningful, lasting transformation—and gives you a clear path to start taking action today.


You’ll Learn:


  • How rewriting your self-talk patterns reshapes your brain’s neurochemistry and behaviour
  • Why the “Law of G.O.Y.A.” outperforms the Law of Attraction in real-world results
  • What avoidance, procrastination, and sabotage reveal about subconscious fear circuits
  • How visualizing success triggers neural coherence and primes the brain for action
  • Why consistency beats intensity when building new habits and identity
  • How to identify the exact belief systems blocking your next transformation
  • What the science of automaticity teaches about lasting change through repetition
  • How emotional rehearsal overrides fear and creates new default responses
  • Why most people fail not from lack of knowledge, but lack of inner alignment
  • How to train your “innercise” muscle daily to build discipline, confidence, and clarity


Timestamps:


[00:00] Introduction

[01:30] What drives self-sabotage and procrastination

[03:14] Childhood trauma and early struggles

[05:00] Discovering the power of the brain

[07:00] Action versus impulsivity

[08:00] Understanding stuckness

[10:00] How neurochemicals reinforce feeling stuck

[12:00] Addiction to stuckness and secondary gain

[14:00] How patterns are automated by the brain

[16:00] Procrastination and fear of failure

[18:00] Conflict between goals and self-image

[20:00] Vibrational coherence explained

[22:00] Recipe for achieving goals

[24:00] How artificial intelligence exposes the real issue

[26:00] Healing ulcerative colitis naturally

[29:00] Overcoming alcoholism with identity work

[31:00] Fixing relationship patterns by changing beliefs

[33:00] Building businesses without traditional education

[36:00] Healing chronic illness without medication

[38:00] Why commitment beats interest

[41:00] How upgrading skills changed John’s life

[44:00] Finding the real cause of procrastination

[46:00] Law of GOYA explained

[48:00] Mastering change versus disappointment

[50:00] Why consistency beats intensity

[53:00] Building self-trust through small daily actions


Get John's free e-book "Unleash Your Brain's Full Potential" here


Learn more about John by checking out his website, app and Youtube. You can also follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and X.


Find more from Kelly:

Instagram: @kellybroganmd

Website: kellybroganmd.com

Join Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.

Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here and join the companion program, Reclaimed, here.


Use code KELLYBROGAN at biofieldtuningstore.com for 15% off your first purchase. Not valid during sales. Exclusions apply.


👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here

Up next
Yesterday
122: How Emotional Sobriety Has Changed My Life (And Could Change Yours Too)
In this episode, I talk about how what we call love can actually be an addiction.I share how I began questioning the way we label addiction as a disease and why abstinence models often keep people stuck. I look at how patterns of chaos, stimulation, and emotional highs and lows s ... Show More
28m 30s
Aug 12
121: Why You Shouldn't Send Your Kids To College | Hannah Maruyama
What if everything you believed about college was a lie?In this episode, I sit down with Hannah Maruyama of Degree Free, who, alongside her husband, has dedicated her life to helping young people reject the myth that college is the only path to success. She’s not just talking the ... Show More
1h 7m
Aug 5
120: The Top 3 Mistakes Most Parents Make When Raising Their Children | Dr. Tom Cowan
Learn more about Dr. Kelly Brogan's signature health protocol, Vital Mind Reset here.Get Kelly's Victimless Mothering masterclass here.What if everything you think about parenting is backwards?In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tom Cowan, physician, author, Waldorf school con ... Show More
59m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
212. Finance For College Students (Scholarships, Investing, Saving, AND Life Advice!) with Cherie Animashaun
College students or parents, friends of college students, if you're trying to graduate debt-free, or if you're trying to become financially literate, this is the episode for you! In this episode, I’m talking to teen activist and nonprofit founder, Cherie Animashaun, about all thi ... Show More
1 h
Nov 2024
Are You Chasing the Right School Counseling Goals?
In this episode of the 'School for School Counselors' podcast, host Steph Johnson discusses a major misstep she nearly made by trying to follow someone else's advice rather than staying true to her authentic style. She explores the unrealistic expectations placed o ... Show More
22m 33s
May 9
How to Create Huge Tax Savings Funding Your Kid’s College (& FIRE on Time!)
Paying for college is one of the biggest financial hurdles families face—even as you’re chasing or approaching FIRE. What’s the smartest way to save for higher education while also securing your financial future? Scott, Mindy, and Amberly are breaking it all down on today’s episo ... Show More
54m 8s
Apr 2023
624: How to Make Smarter Investments in Your Learning, with Jill Schlesinger
Jill Schlesinger: The Great Money Reset Jill Schlesinger is an Emmy Award winning Business Analyst for CBS News. She appears on CBS radio and television stations nationwide covering the economy, markets, investing and anything else with a dollar sign. Jill is the host of the Jill ... Show More
40m 6s
Feb 2025
The Money Expert: “If I Was Broke Today, This Is EXACTLY What I’d Do To Become Debt-Free” | Anthony O’Neal
I'm going on tour! Come see The School of Greatness LIVE in person! Get my new book Make Money Easy here!Financial freedom begins with taking control of your money story, not your credit score. In this transformative conversation, bestselling author Anthony O'Neal shatters conven ... Show More
53m 27s
Jul 21
Is Self-Help Making You Miserable?
Forrest and Dr. Rick discuss what's really wrong with the self-help industry, going beyond the obvious pseudoscience and snake oil to examine deeper structural issues. They explore the industry's mixed-bag focus on individual responsibility, the risks of turning healing into a ne ... Show More
1h 26m
Mar 2024
Personal Finance For Geniuses w/ Adam Nash #797
… literally, we’re discussing why some of the brightest minds at Stanford University need just as much instruction for their money as the typical American. At such a competitive school, with one of the lowest acceptance rates, you’d think those students have everything figured ou ... Show More
59m 7s
Oct 2024
Why You Should Resist Institutions for the Sake of Your Children | Ep 56
Most of us want the best for our children, but what if the very institutions we trust are actually steering our kids in the wrong direction? In this episode, Dr. Shefali, a renowned Conscious Parenting Expert and Bestselling Author gets real about how we can break away from the p ... Show More
51m 46s
Nov 2024
246 | What I Would Tell My Younger Self: Breaking Free From What Your Life "Should" Look Like & Creating an Authentic Life That You Actually Love (ft: Ashley McDonald)
Today's episode is for the woman who has been feeling unfulfilled chasing what the world has been telling her to chase & follow. The job. The promotion. The big house. The income goal. Ash is a phenomenal woman & is a beautiful example of what it means to be willing to questi ... Show More
38m 44s
Aug 7
787. Why Being “Good” Is Hurting You: How To Choose Yourself + Be Free
In this episode, Lindsey welcomes bestselling author Amber Rae for a soul-baring convo about breaking free from the cages we build for ourselves—yes, even the beautiful ones. Get ready for real talk on self-abandonment, “good girl” programming, and honoring your deepest desires. ... Show More
1h 4m