AJ and Johnny sit down with Carla Ondrasik, author of Stop Trying, to unpack why the word try is secretly holding you back from real change. Carla shares how “trying” tricks your brain into feeling productive while keeping you stuck — and why doing, not trying, is the antidote to procrastination, perfectionism, and fear.
They explore how language shapes behavior, why “I’ll try” destroys trust and momentum, and how replacing it with decisive action transforms confidence, relationshi...
AJ and Johnny sit down with Carla Ondrasik, author of Stop Trying, to unpack why the word try is secretly holding you back from real change. Carla shares how “trying” tricks your brain into feeling productive while keeping you stuck — and why doing, not trying, is the antidote to procrastination, perfectionism, and fear.
They explore how language shapes behavior, why “I’ll try” destroys trust and momentum, and how replacing it with decisive action transforms confidence, relationships, and follow-through. You’ll learn how to silence your inner critic, embrace failure, and finally move from thinking about it to living it.
Chapters:
00:00 – Why “try” is the most dangerous word you use04:00 – How “trying” fools your brain into false progress08:00 – The psychology of fear, failure, and perfectionism12:00 – How “try” damages trust and relationships16:00 – Replacing “try” with honest language and action20:00 – How to stop waiting for motivation and start doing24:00 – The Try Test: how your brain reacts to indecision28:00 – The power of “no” and protecting your willpower32:00 – The science of action and accountability36:00 – Rewiring your brain from “try” to “do”
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Episode resources:
Stop Trying!
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motivation, procrastination, confidence, mindset, fear, accountability, personal growth, communication, self-sabotage, language, psychology, Stop Trying
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