Are the holidays leaving you feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or stuck in a loop of "here we go again"?

In this episode of The Framework, we strip away the marketing and the "fat guy in a red suit" to explore why Christmas is often the most difficult time of year for so many. We dive deep into a core psychological truth: It is not the event itself that causes disturbance, but rather the meaning we assign to that event. Whether you are a parent trying to "replicate the magic," someone navigating the holidays after a divorce, or a professional feeling the weight of social obligations, you might be suffering because you are playing by rules written by someone else.

In this episode, you will learn how to:

• Scrutinize the "rules" and "shoulds": Understand how family traditions and social expectations can disempower you and lead to intense stress.
• Identify your "Affirmative Why": Discover how to become the "author and architect" of your own reasons for celebrating, ensuring they align with your authentic values.
• Step out of the Victim Mentality: Learn to take a step back, breathe, and realize you have the power to change your perspective and your response in a single moment.
• Manage "Activations" in Real-Time: Use the tools of The Framework to identify when you are being triggered and take responsibility for your reactions instead of projecting them onto others.
• The "Fail Fast" Mentality: Learn why recognizing a mistake or a negative thought in the moment allows you to make a slight adjustment and move forward without guilt.

The holidays don’t have to be a recipe for depression or negative self-talk. By choosing to focus on your highest order values—whether that is family, service, or simply creating new traditions—you can navigate this season with peace and intentionality.

Take the next step in your mental health journey. If you find yourself struggling to bridge the gap between your values and your daily experience, it’s time to build a personal framework that works for you.

Stop operating under someone else's "why" and start standing in your own truth. Let’s work together to identify your triggers, scrutinize your assigned meanings, and help you gain the faith in yourself needed to navigate any season of life..

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Analogy for Understanding: Think of your mental health like a GPS system during the holidays. Most people are driving with "factory settings"—the rules and meanings installed by their parents or society.

When you hit the "traffic" of holiday stress, the GPS starts shouting "shoulds" and "oughts," leading you into a loop of frustration. Scheduling an appointment is like reprogramming your own coordinates; it allows you to set a destination based on your own values so that even when you hit a detour, you know exactly why you’re on the road and how to get where you want to go.

Are you tired of feeling like your life or relationships are a "shit show"? Most of us are living by a set of unconscious rules that govern our perceptions, communications, and interactions, often without us even realizing it. In this episode of The Framework,

David Waselkow and Tyler dive deep into the "poisonous tree" of prohibitive thinking—the fear-based mindset of "I don't want to be..." or "I'm afraid of..." that keeps you trapped in a loop of anxiety and unfulfilled needs.

Why You Feel Stuck Every relationship you are in, including the one with yourself, exists in a system governed by rules. When you experience affective distress—feelings of sadness, anger, or fear—it is a signal that your internal rules are being violated. Unfortunately, many of these rules are built on prohibitive thoughts, such as "I don't want to be needy," "I'm afraid of being a disappointment," or "I refuse to be taken advantage of". These are "goals without end" because you can never truly measure success in not becoming something, leading to a life of constant self-sabotage and "magical thinking".

The Power of Affirmative Thinking To transform your life, you must move from prohibitive thinking to affirmative thinking. This isn't just "positive thinking"; it is reality-based, solution-focused thinking that allows you to identify your values and advocate for your needs. Whether you are struggling with intimacy, parenting, or business leadership, the path to success requires rewriting your rules to be measurable and doable.

In this episode, we explore:

• The "Hairy Nipple" Lesson: Why being afraid to express what you want leads to "farts in the wind" and missed connections

• The "Ass-Slapping" Affection Trap: How lack of precision in your rules leads to "wonky" dynamics and resentment

• Rewiring Your Brain: How to use intentionality and neuroplasticity to break old habits and develop new, healthy patterns

• The Truth About Therapy: Why the relationship and "fit" between you and your therapist is the #1 predictor of success Ready to Unfuck Your Thinking? David Waselkow offers a clinical and consultative approach designed to empower you with the truth and help you stop the pain on the brain.

If you are ready to stop "firing blind" and start leading with your head, it’s time to schedule an appointment Take the first step toward a functional, adaptive life. Visit www.davidwaselkow.com to read more about The Framework, access supplemental articles, and book your consultation.

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The Posture of Progress To understand the importance of intentionality in changing your life, consider the deadlift. If your posture is "wonky" before you even pull the bar, every movement that follows will be out of position, limiting your strength and risking injury. In the same way, approaching a conflict or a goal with prohibitive, fear-based thinking is like lifting with a rounded back. By setting a proper affirmative posture from the start, you gain the "superpower" to handle the heavy lifting of life with strength and composure.

Are family dinners turning into battlefields? Does the current political climate make your "pucker tighten" with anxiety before you even walk into a room? In this episode of The Framework, therapist David Waselkow and co-host Tyler explore why political division is tearing apart marriages, family systems, and friendships,. Drawing from professional clinical experience,

David reveals how the 2016 election caused a massive surge in patients seeking help for diagnosable psychological conditions driven by domestic politics—and why the current polarization is exponentially higher,,. This isn't a debate about candidates; it’s a deep dive into how you can protect your mental health and relationships when the world feels intractably divided. In this episode, you will discover: •

The "Meta Rule" Trap: How "Us versus Them" thinking turns loved ones into enemies and creates a zero-sum game in your living room

• The Conflation Rule: Why we mistakenly judge a person’s entire moral character based on a single political issue—and how to stop doing it

• Affirmative vs. Prohibitive Thinking: How to move away from "prohibitive voting" and fear-based reactions toward a focus on your actual values

• The "Uncle Jimmy" Strategy: Concrete techniques for navigating high-conflict discussions at Thanksgiving or the dinner table

• Separating Person from Behavior: The essential psychological principle that allows you to respect the person even when you attack the idea Stop letting the election cycle dictate your mood, energy, and life satisfaction.

If you find yourself trapped in "black and white" thinking or struggling with the "trauma response" of modern politics, it’s time to rewrite the rules of your own framework.

Take the next step toward relational health and internal clarity. If the stress of the current political environment is disrupting your balance, schedule an appointment today to learn how to apply these tools specifically to your life and unique family dynamics.