Hosts: Andrew Dewar & Catherine Collins

Feeling anxious about the world, your future, or just stuck in a funk? You’re not alone—and you’re not broken. In this heartening episode of Five Year You, Andrew and Catherine share how to reconnect with hope during uncertain times, using mindset shifts, body-based tools, and small acts of kindness that actually work.

Whether you’re struggling with job loss, burnout, or just the general heaviness of the news cycle, this episode offers realistic and uplifting ways to find hope—even when it feels out of reach.

• How to shift out of fear and panic into possibility
• The power of perspective: finding silver linings in everyday struggles
• What to do when your nervous system is overloaded
• How movement, music, and even Super Mario Bros. can rewire your mood
• Using gratitude and future-self journaling to build internal hope
• How being the hope for someone else can lift your own spirits
• Simple ways to interrupt negative thought patterns
• Why your coping skills matter more than ever

1. Change your input: Unfollow negative news and seek out uplifting content.
2. Move your body: Go for a walk, dance, or play Tetris (yes, really—it’s backed by neuroscience).
3. Future journal: Write a note from your future self, imagining life going right.
4. Give to others: Deliver a meal, send a note, or join a volunteer group like Lasagna Love.
5. Use a “feel better” checklist: Check sleep, hydration, food, sunlight, and laughter.
6. Play and laugh: Watch a silly show, listen to happy music, or revisit childhood joy.
7. Practice gratitude: Even old cars with broken locks can become part of your healing story.
8. Accept your feelings: Hope doesn’t mean you ignore what’s hard—it means you believe in what comes next.

• Lasagna Love Volunteer & Request a Meal

Hosts: Andrew Dewar & Catherine Collins

Let’s talk about the real side of healing—the hard, messy, emotional parts that no one puts in a quote card. In this heartfelt episode, Andrew opens up about his return to EMDR therapy, and both hosts explore what it actually feels like to face emotional growth head-on.

Whether you're just beginning your healing journey or you're knee-deep in the “garbage removal” phase, this episode will remind you that you're not alone—and it’s okay to feel all the feelings.

Book your coaching call here: https://fiveyearyou.com/call

👇 Scroll for tools, inspiration, and resources to support your journey.

• What EMDR therapy is and why it’s helpful
• Why healing feels worse before it feels better
• The “emotional garbage” metaphor and why it’s spot-on
• How to support someone going through a dark day
• Self-care vs. avoidance: knowing the difference
• Building your “coping skill fanny pack”
• How to recognize your healing patterns over time
• Why we need to normalize therapy and mental health check-ins

🧠 What Is EMDR Therapy? - EMDR Institute

📱 Opal App – Mindful Screen Time

🎧 Try Audible Free – Process & Reflect on the Go

🍳 Our Favorite Instant Pot

“Healing isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it’s crying in the shower or just making it through the day.”

“You can’t outsource your healing—you have to take out your own emotional trash.”

“Your batting average for surviving hard days is 100% so far.”

Andrew: A joyful and productive week spent together with Catherine.

Catherine: Sunshine, blooming tulips, and walks in the spring air after a long Chicago winter.

• Book a therapy session—before you’re in crisis.
• Identify your coping tools (music, walks, calling a friend).
• Create a post-therapy buffer zone—no PTA meetings right after deep work.
• Tell someone you trust if you’re struggling.
• Repeat this mantra: “I am allowed to heal at my own pace.”

🌐 Website: https://fiveyearyou.com

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/fiveyearyou

📧 Email: hello@fiveyearyou.com

We are not licensed therapists. This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Please reach out to a mental health professional for personal guidance. Some links are affiliate links—we may earn a small commission.

💬 Have you had a moment when healing didn’t feel pretty—but you came out stronger?

Share it in the comments. Your story might help someone else.

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Hosts: Andrew Dewar & Catherine Collins

In this episode of Five Year You, we get real about failure, setbacks, and those moments when life just… derails. If you’ve ever asked, “Why is this happening to me?”—this conversation will help you reframe the tough moments and find meaning, strength, and even humor in the mess.

👇 Scroll for tools, timestamps, and links!

✨ What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why setbacks are a natural part of the growth journey
• The importance of mindset: victim vs. curiosity
• Practical coping skills for when you’re in the middle of a setback
• The power of contrast days
• How reframing failure helps you become the person you're meant to be
• Parenting wisdom: why we shouldn’t shield kids from failure
• How to process big feelings—without getting stuck
• Fanny pack of coping tools (yes, we said that)

✅ Helpful Tools & Resources:

📱 Opal App – Reduce Screen Time & Reclaim Life

🎧 Audible Free Trial – Personal Development on the Go

🍳 Instant Pot – Save Time, Eat Well

💬 Favorite Quotes:

🌟 Glimmers of the Week:

Catherine: Finally making a long-put-off doctor appointment thanks to a little loving push.

Andrew: Wearing yellow for the first time and loving the way it feels.

📲 Stay Connected:

🌐 Website: https://fiveyearyou.com

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/fiveyearyou

📧 Email: hello@fiveyearyou.com

⚠️ Disclaimer:

This content is for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice. Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.

💬 Your Turn:

What’s a setback that taught you something valuable?

Drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear your story.

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🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.

#FiveYearYou #OvercomingSetbacks #MentalHealthTools #PersonalGrowth #CopingSkills #LifeLessons #SelfImprovement #Resilience #Podcast #AndrewDewar #CatherineCollins