Practical Mind Shifting Strategies to Stop Sabotaging Happiness and Success with Mitch Weisburgh
The Flashing Warning Light: Survival Brain
Think of your brain like an old-school car dashboard. When something stressful pops up, it's like the engine warning light flashes—your survival brain (the limbic system) slams into action. Suddenly, you’re gripping the wheel, tunnel vision kicks in, and you’re only focused on the nearest pothole or obstacle. Every little bump feels urgent, and you can’t think about much except avoiding disaster.
Tapping the Brakes: Engaging the Sage Mind
But here's the trick that Mitch Weisburgh describes: You actually have the ability to gently tap the brakes, take a slow breath, and tune into another part of the dashboard—your resourceful mind, or what he calls the "sage mind." That’s your built-in GPS and climate control! Once you pause and cool down (using breathing, self-talk, or even stepping away for a walk), you start seeing the whole road again. Now, instead of just dodging potholes, you notice there might be a smoother side street, or maybe teaming up with the passengers in your car will get you there faster.
Checking the Dashboard: Recognizing Your State
Just like checking your dashboard helps you react wisely to car trouble, recognizing which "state" your mind is in lets you shift gears. If you’re stuck on autopilot, worried about what the group thinks, or sure you’re right, that’s usually your survival brain driving. But if you can catch yourself in the moment—“Wait, do I have to blast through, or can I steer differently?”—you move into a state where learning, creativity, and collaboration become possible.
Shift Gears: Choosing Your Response
So next time life’s warning lights flash, remember: You’re not stuck with your first reflex. You can pause, check your dashboard, and shift into a better way of thinking—one that makes the whole drive a lot safer and a lot more enjoyable.
Enjoy the episode!
YouTube: youtu.be/rCgmjzSEz2I
Show Notes: TheSocialChameleon.Show/Mitch-Weisburgh
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Highlights From The Episode:
1. Recognize When You’re in Survival Mode
Most of us react fast and emotionally, especially under pressure. Mitch explains how our brains switch into “survival mode,” making us see things as threats. When you’re sure you’re right, or can’t stop feeling anxious, odds are you’re in limbic (reactive) mode. Pausing to notice this is your first step out.
2. Three Ways to Reset Your Mind (Fast)
Mitch suggests these tools can help you calm down and think clearly:
- Self-awareness: Observe your reaction and name it, e.g., “I’m anxious because I feel out of control.”
- Self-talk: Use open-ended, gentle prompts. Ask, “What do I want to happen here?” or “If I could, what would I try first?”
- Distraction: Take a walk, listen to music, breathe deeply, or do any activity that gets you out of the spiral. Even one minute can help.
Sometimes you need another person’s help to reset. Reach out to someone you trust and let them walk through a process with you.
3. Groupthink & Complacency
We all want to belong. Mitch talks about how group pressure can keep us from thinking for ourselves. Watch out when you’re just going along with the crowd, and reflect — is this really what you want?
Tip: If you’re struggling against group expectations, pause and ask, “What do I actually want?” Practice expressing your view gently and observe how it feels.
4. Building Resilience Isn’t Just Toughness
Resilience is about trying, failing, learning, and adjusting. Instead of expecting one perfect solution, Mitch advises using the “OODA loop”:
- Observe the situation
- Orient with what you know
- Decide on an action
- Act, then repeat and adjust
Try imagining possible outcomes before jumping in (“three stories” method) and accept that things won’t always go according to plan — the key is responding, not reacting.
5. “Sure” Means You’re Not Learning
Mitch’s most shocking insight: Whenever you’re 100% sure you’re right (or wrong, or that something’s impossible), your brain is in its reactive mode and not open. Curiosity and openness = resourcefulness.
As Mitch Weisburgh explains, “Whenever you are sure of something, it means that you’re in your limbic mind. Because if you’re in your resourceful mind, you’re never completely sure—you’re always curious and exploratory.”
Meet Mitch Weisburgh
Mitch’s goal is to grow a critical mass of people who live happy, productive lives, who are resilient, resourceful, and collaborative in the face of obstacles, adversaries, and unintended outcomes.
From 1981 through 2000, Mitch founded and ran Personal Computer Learning Centers of America, training adults in the use of computers, growing the company to over 130 employees.
Mitch Weisburgh cofounded Academic Business Advisors in 2005, which helped organizations make a difference and reach more students in US schools. He has founded several nonprofit organizations in education, including Games4Ed and Edchat Interactive.
Mitch’s book, MindShifting: Stop Your Brain from Sabotaging Your Happiness and Success, was published in December 2024 and focuses on techniques to shift from mindsets that hold us back to ones that propel us forward. Since 2018, Mitch has been creating content and teaching MindShifting and Sensemaking, and has started a MindShifting Community for educators.
Mitch writes a newsletter at MindShifting Educators about ways to inspire the mind to learn.
Visit MindShifting & MindShifting Blog
Mitch Weisburgh’s Book
MindShifting: Stop Your Brain from Sabotaging Your Happiness and Success
🧠Rewire the Loops Holding You Back
In MindShifting, educator and entrepreneur Mitch Weisburgh shows how much of our struggle comes from mental autopilot—fear, blame, avoidance—that keeps us stuck. The book explains why our brains default to these patterns and offers more than 50 techniques to shift into mindsets of Resourcefulness, Resilience, and Collaboration.
It’s not theory for theory’s sake. Weisburgh gives practical exercises you can use in the moment to catch self-sabotaging thoughts, reframe problems into opportunities, and respond with clarity instead of reflex. For leaders, educators, and anyone serious about growth, MindShifting is a manual for reclaiming your brain and directing it toward progress.
✨ Weekly Challenge ✨
Think of something you are absolutely sure about. It could be something you believe you can or can’t do, or something you’re convinced someone else is wrong about. Then, challenge yourself to get curious about it. Ask yourself: “What if I’m not completely right?” or “What else could be true here?” See if you can open up your thinking, even just by 10%, to other possibilities or perspectives.
The idea is to notice those moments when your mind is locked in certainty, and instead of digging your heels in, practice being just a bit more open and curious. This small shift can lead to big changes in how you relate to challenges, other people, and your own self-talk.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Conflict and Collaboration (Dec 2025) by Mitch Weisburgh
This is Mitch’s upcoming book, which he refers to several times, especially when discussing motivational interviewing and groupthink. He describes some of the key concepts that will appear in this book, like handling conflict and collaborating effectively.
- Recommendation: Discussed as a future resource with specific frameworks.
Meditation Apps
Motivational Interviewing
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
I mention this as a favorite on negotiation, related to the discussion on conflict and collaboration. I describe it in the episode as a book that reframes how you think about these things.
Start with No
This is recommended by Chris Voss in the above book, and is an excellent guide to saying and using the word “no,” which a lot of us have a hard time with.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
I reference Kahneman as someone who, “even though he knows all these things, he’s still fooled by a lot of these things.” It comes up during a discussion of cognitive bias and how being an expert doesn’t make you immune.
- Recommendation: Offered as an authoritative source on the science of thinking and cognitive bias.
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
- Law cited: “Never Outshine the Master”
- Mitch and I use it to discuss group dynamics, leadership, and power plays related to groupthink and reactions to conflict within groups.
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
I mention rereading it and connecting a story about irritation with habits to the book's themes. He references how the message helped him reframe a daily annoyance and let go of being upset.
- Recommendation: Suggested as a resource for mindful acceptance and reframing daily experiences.
Stoicism (Epictetus/Stoic philosophy references)
I share a personal story based on a teaching from Epictetus about voluntary discomfort and preparing for adversity. He applies this to his own family practices, like eating simply once a month.
- Recommendation: Used as a practical philosophical framework.
Bill Walsh: The Score Takes Care of Itself & Phil Jackson: Eleven Rings
Mitch notes these as visible in Tyson’s recording background. He connects the philosophies of these coaches to the episode’s themes about resilience, mind shifting, and emotional regulation.
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