Nervous System Mastery: Build resilience, reduce stress and feel more yourself - w/ Esin Pinarli
04/11/25 • 60 min
1 Listener
There’s only so much logic you can apply to your problems, at some point you need to work with your biology.
The nervous system it an incredible organ built to help you survive and it can over-ride your conscious processing at will. To stop tripping over our barriers and build true resilience, reduce stress & feel more alive we need there is a way.
Working with your nervous system instead of against it.
On the show we invite Esin Pinarli a licensed therapist and expert in working with our nervous system to give us a masterclass on turning discomfort into growth.
Three Takeaways:
- Your nervous system doesn’t want you to succeed—it wants you to survive.
- Discomfort is a signal, not a stop sign.
- You grow by expanding your window of tolerance, not by breaking through it.
Real personal growth doesn’t come from reading another book or “thinking positive.” It comes from your body. From doing the hard thing, just a little bit at a time. We talk about titration (small steps), edge surfing (riding discomfort), and how your brain actually rewires itself when you face fear—gracefully.
Turns out, the part of your brain responsible for willpower literally grows when you push yourself. This is about learning to stretch without snapping. To build a stronger relationship with yourself—one uncomfortable moment at a time.
Related Episodes
- Neuroscience of Fear - Spotify - Apple
- 4 Hidden Fears sabotaging your life - Spotify - Apple
- Stephen Porges: Polyvagal Theory and building inner peace - Spotify - Apple
- Jessica Baum: Attachment theory and relationships - Spotify - Apple
- Edge Surfing: How to slow down time - Spotify - Apple
WORKSHOP - Building certainty in an uncertain world
😱 The world is spinning faster and increasingly feels unhinged
✊ Use Psychology to build strong core foundations and make long-term decisions
🎟️ Join us - https://workshop.growthmindsetpodcast.com
Sponsors
🧪 Magic Mind - Mental performance shot -
- 50% off - https://MagicMind.com/GrowthEDU - code GROWTH50
🌱 Cozy Earth - Luxury bedding and loungewear
- 35% off - https//CozyEarth.com - code GROWTH
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
Contact Esin
- Practice - https://www.eternalwellnesscounseling.com/
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esin-pinarli-73ab1722/
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/esinpinarli_lcsw/
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset...
There’s only so much logic you can apply to your problems, at some point you need to work with your biology.
The nervous system it an incredible organ built to help you survive and it can over-ride your conscious processing at will. To stop tripping over our barriers and build true resilience, reduce stress & feel more alive we need there is a way.
Working with your nervous system instead of against it.
On the show we invite Esin Pinarli a licensed therapist and expert in working with our nervous system to give us a masterclass on turning discomfort into growth.
Three Takeaways:
- Your nervous system doesn’t want you to succeed—it wants you to survive.
- Discomfort is a signal, not a stop sign.
- You grow by expanding your window of tolerance, not by breaking through it.
Real personal growth doesn’t come from reading another book or “thinking positive.” It comes from your body. From doing the hard thing, just a little bit at a time. We talk about titration (small steps), edge surfing (riding discomfort), and how your brain actually rewires itself when you face fear—gracefully.
Turns out, the part of your brain responsible for willpower literally grows when you push yourself. This is about learning to stretch without snapping. To build a stronger relationship with yourself—one uncomfortable moment at a time.
Related Episodes
- Neuroscience of Fear - Spotify - Apple
- 4 Hidden Fears sabotaging your life - Spotify - Apple
- Stephen Porges: Polyvagal Theory and building inner peace - Spotify - Apple
- Jessica Baum: Attachment theory and relationships - Spotify - Apple
- Edge Surfing: How to slow down time - Spotify - Apple
WORKSHOP - Building certainty in an uncertain world
😱 The world is spinning faster and increasingly feels unhinged
✊ Use Psychology to build strong core foundations and make long-term decisions
🎟️ Join us - https://workshop.growthmindsetpodcast.com
Sponsors
🧪 Magic Mind - Mental performance shot -
- 50% off - https://MagicMind.com/GrowthEDU - code GROWTH50
🌱 Cozy Earth - Luxury bedding and loungewear
- 35% off - https//CozyEarth.com - code GROWTH
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
Contact Esin
- Practice - https://www.eternalwellnesscounseling.com/
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esin-pinarli-73ab1722/
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/esinpinarli_lcsw/
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset...
Previous Episode
The Science Behind Changing Your Mind (and how to build better taste)
The problem with being human is that we believe our version of truth is the truth.
Not because we’re bad—but because we’re wired that way.
This episode is a story of blindness. Not the kind you see—but the kind you don’t even know you have. You’re not as open-minded as you think.
That’s not an insult—it’s just how the brain works. We shortcut. We judge. We protect our ego like it’s a vintage vinyl.
In this episode, I dive into the strange ways our own minds trick us into thinking we're rational, original, and morally superior. I walk through how prejudice isn't just about race—it's about music, anger, taste, careers, and even your opinion of running. You’ll hear about blind spots in your day-to-day that quietly shape your reality, and how to start noticing them before they run the show.
Takeaways:
- Why your opinions probably aren’t your own
- Why improving your taste is more important than finding your passion
- A simple trick to challenge your ego without bruising it
You can’t change the world if you can’t first question the lens you’re using to see it.
This episode won’t change your mind—you will.
WORKSHOP - Building certainty in an uncertain world
😱 The world is spinning faster and increasingly feels unhinged
✊ Use Psychology to build strong core foundations and make long-term decisions
🗓️ This week only - 30% off code - EARLYBIRD
🎟️ Join us - https://workshop.growthmindsetpodcast.com
UPGRADE to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: The Science Behind Changing Your Mind (and how to build better taste)
Chapters:
00:00 You are wrong about a few things
02:19 Why is Prejudice So Hard to Notice
03:48 How Prejudice Happens
05:25 Lacking Awareness of What Change Would be Like
07:23 Communication
09:05 Where People Live
12:36 Lesson from Rick Rubin
13:22 Talent vs. Skill
16:05 The Issue of Feeling Special
17:34 3 Stories to Ground Yourself
17:48 1st - Being 1st isn't the best
20:33 2nd - other people's problems are also our problems.
22:27 3rd - Don't be A Racist
25:24 Send Off
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Next Episode
Science of Mental Toughness: Assess yourself using the 4 quadrants of resilience
What separates those who break from those who bend? A shift—not in strength, but in perspective.
In today’s episode, we look at the 4 quadrants of mental resilience: Control, Commitment, Challenge, and Confidence —using a blend of metaphors, Stoic wisdom, and powerful stories from history.
Think of your mind like a car: control is the steering wheel, commitment is the fuel, challenge is the terrain, and confidence? That’s your engine. From Helen Keller to Joan of Arc, you’ll see how legendary mental strength isn’t born—it’s built. Plus, learn why reacting to criticism like a calm kung-fu master might be your new superpower.
Mental toughness isn’t built in heroic moments; it’s forged in the quiet choice to show up again.
- Reflect on where you place your power: inside or out?
- Anchor your goals in systems, not wishful thinking.
- Let difficulty be your teacher, not your warning sign.
If you’re ready to change how you see resilience, this episode will shift everything.
WORKSHOP - Building certainty in an uncertain world
😱 The world is spinning faster and increasingly feels unhinged
✊ Use Psychology to build strong core foundations and make long-term decisions
🗓️ This week only - 30% off code - EARLYBIRD
🎟️ Join us - https://workshop.growthmindsetpodcast.com
Upgrade to Premium:
🏖️ Ad-free listening
🤘 Support the show
🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content
💬 Community Discord
Get in Touch
👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset
📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com
Growth Mindset Psychology:
Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.
📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)
🛜 Website - Growth Mindset
Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement
Episode: Science of Mental Toughness: Assess yourself using the 4 quadrants of resilience
Chapters:
00:00 The meaning in suffering
02:14 The 4 elements of mental toughness
02:47 Quadrant of control
07:13 Quadrant of commitment
10:59 Quadrant of challenge
16:02 Quadrant of confidence
20:56 Building mental toughness requires practice
26:57 Send off
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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