In this short episode of Selves Unedited, Dr. Maria-Christina Stewart and Dr. Danielle Colborn continue the March theme of Spring Cleaning the Mind by exploring a gentle approach to change with small experiments.

When we try to grow or shift long-standing habits, it’s common for uncomfortable thoughts and emotions to arise. That discomfort can make change feel overwhelming or even impossible. Instead of treating growth like a test we have to pass, Drs. Stewart and Colborn suggest approaching it with curiosity—taking small, manageable steps and observing what we learn along the way.

Together, they discuss how breaking change into small behavioral experiments can help us move forward.

1. How big changes can feel overwhelming—and why small steps help
2. Using experiments when approaching growth
3. How anticipatory anxiety can make situations feel scarier than they actually are
4. Examples of behavioral experiments related to clothing, body image, and self-comfort
5. Why holding onto “goal clothes” can keep us stuck in painful thinking patterns
6. How small actions can help shift both behavior and mindset

What is one small experiment you could try this week that aligns with what truly matters to you? Try breaking it down into three manageable steps to help you get started.

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This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and is not therapy or a substitute for professional care. If you or someone you know is struggling, we encourage seeking support from a qualified mental health professional.

As part of the Spring Cleaning the Mind theme, Dr. Danielle Colborn and Dr. Maria-Christina Stewart explore a common experience that arises when we try to make meaningful changes: fear. Even when we move toward something positive, fear and self-doubt can appear.

The hosts share their own experience of questioning whether their previous episode was “good enough,” highlighting how easily our minds can create negative narratives that aren’t grounded in reality.

1. Fear often appears at the edge of growth. It doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path.
2. Don’t automatically believe your thoughts. Thoughts are mental events, not necessarily facts.
3. Pause and gather data. Check whether your fears are actually supported by reality.
4. Avoid avoidance. Facing fears in small steps helps reduce them over time.
5. Don’t let perfectionism stop progress. Focus on “good enough” rather than perfect.

Instead of asking, “How do I get rid of this fear?” try asking:

“How can I move forward wisely, even while fear is here?”

March feels like a beginning.

In this season opener of Selves Unedited, Dr. Maria-Christina Stewart and Dr. Danielle Colborn explore what it means to grow intentionally — not by fixing ourselves, but by making room for what is important and meaningful to us.

We talk about:

1. Why growth isn’t a one-time decision but a return
2. How fear quietly shrinks our lives
3. The cognitive and emotional space taken up by body image, comparison, and self-criticism
4. The illusion that control will make us happy
5. Why meaningful living often requires tolerating discomfort

Instead of asking, “How do I fix myself?”

We’re asking, “What do I want to make room for?”

This episode invites you to consider what’s currently taking up too much space in your mind — and what might become possible if it softened.

In This Episode, We Explore:

1. 🌿 Growth as an intentional, ongoing process
2. 🌿 How perfectionism and comparison crowd out joy
3. 🌿 The protective function of food and body preoccupation
4. 🌿 Fear as both protector and life-shrinker
5. 🌿 The difference between control and care
6. 🌿 Healing as expansion rather than achievement

Reflection Questions

As you move through this season, consider:

1. What is taking up too much space in my mind right now?
2. What feels like it’s shrinking my life?
3. If that softened, what would I have more energy for?
4. What do I want to grow more of this spring?

A Note From Us

A challenging relationship with food, your body, or yourself overall doesn’t just affect how you look and feel. It shapes how you move through the world. It consumes attention. It narrows your focus.

Healing isn’t about achieving the perfect mindset.

It’s about expansion.

More presence.

More energy.

More choice.

We invite you to tune-in and join this journey of growth with us.

Disclaimer

Please remember: this podcast is not therapy or a substitute for therapy. If you or someone you care about is struggling, we encourage you to seek support from a qualified professional.

Connect With Us on LinkedIn:

Dr. Danielle Colborn

DrMariaChristina

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