A year ago, a breath work session changed my life. Twenty minutes in, I was sobbing. By the end, the entire framework for this podcast had dropped into my head at once.

This episode is about how that's even possible.

I sit down with breath work facilitator Nicole Rager to unpack what happens in your body when you breathe deeply enough to break through the mental noise — neuropeptides, the vagus nerve, the 90-second rule, and the spiritual traditions that have been pointing at the same mechanism for thousands of years.

If you've ever wondered why the answers you're looking for never come from thinking harder, this one's for you.

Find Nicole at https://nicolerager.com/

If this episode moved you, leave a rating and share it with one person who needs to hear it.

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Music Credits:

"Breathe" by Denys Horokhovsky

"777 Joy" by Nolan Nova

"Passage" by EVOE

"New World" by Ian Post

"Of The Sea" by Okaya

"Whispers" by Okaya

"Contemplative Question" by The Tennessee Pistols

There is at least one moment in every person’s life where they say the right things out loud, but silently believe something completely different. Usually, it’s harmless—like saying you’re "fine" when you’re actually a ball of stress. But sometimes, it’s about the grudges we hold.

We all keep a list of the people who have wronged us, waiting for apologies that may never come. But in this episode of Better Beliefs, we uncover a different, older list—the one with our own name on it. It's the tally sheet of our regrets, our shame, and the times we didn't show up for ourselves.

Joining the show is author, podcast host, and spiritual coach Rachel Harrison. Rachel shares her powerful personal journey through a chaotic family dynamic, codependency, and alcoholism, detailing the exact moment she realized that healing her life didn't start with changing the people around her. It started in the mirror.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Trap of Transactional Forgiveness: Why waiting for an apology keeps your peace of mind hostage.
• The Physical Toll of Resentment: Fascinating data from the Stanford Forgiveness Project on how holding grudges literally makes us sick.
• What Codependency Really Is: Understanding how "control disguised as love" drains our energy.
• Spiritual Forgiveness: How to take the judgment off your past so you can finally step into your present.
• The Power of Self-Compassion: Why beating yourself up at 2:00 AM doesn't protect you—it just keeps you stuck.

The person you are becoming can't meet you halfway until the person you used to be stops blocking the road. It’s time to put down the weight you were never supposed to carry forever.

✨ CONNECT WITH RACHEL:

• Read her book: Grab a copy of Rachel's best-selling book, Recover Your Soul, on her website: https://www.recoveryoursoul.net/
• Listen & Learn: Check out Rachel’s podcast and explore her coaching programs: https://www.recoveryoursoul.net/

🎵 SHOW CREDITS:

• Written, Edited, & Produced by: Brent Kocal
• Show Ownership: Better Beliefs is owned by 6350 Ventures
• Cover Art: Jenny H Designs
• Original Opening Music: Lonely Ramblers
• Additional music credits:
  • "Space Time Thought" by CTRL-S
  • "Lu sciccareddu" by TEO
  • "Orange Lullaby" by Nitzan Rom
  • "Above the Clouds" by Theater of Delays
  • "This Must Be Love" by Rynn
  • "Oh Yeah, Life" by Just for Kicks
  • "Contemplative Question" by The Tennessee Pistols

SUPPORT THE SHOW: If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to practice a little self-forgiveness today.

Watch the Video Version of This Episode: https://youtu.be/T_OOTCt5Bmk

Have you ever fought with everything you had to prevent a disaster, only to watch it fall apart anyway?

We spend our entire lives trying to control our circumstances, engineer perfect safety nets, and avoid "bad" outcomes. But what if the very thing you are running from is the exact catalyst you need to break through to the next level?

In this episode, we unpack a powerful story about the illusion of control and the hidden gift of forced transformation. We explore why our greatest moments of growth, resilience, and clarity rarely come when things go perfectly—they come when life completely wrecks our plans.

If you are currently navigating a setback, a failed project, or an unexpected detour, this episode is a roadmap to shifting your perspective and uncovering the hidden path forward.

Inside this episode, you’ll discover:
• The psychological trap of trying to control the uncontrollable.
• Why hitting rock bottom often provides the solid foundation you were missing.
• A framework for turning unexpected detours into your greatest competitive advantage.

Connect with the Community:
• Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode.
• Enjoyed this story? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it’s the single best way to help us reach more people who need to hear this message.
• Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qkgnd1gAiho

Connect with the guest in this episode, Angela: https://www.healingenergy.world/