Ep 142. Under stress, the perception of time can shift dramatically. In moments of excitement or positive stress, time can feel fast, fluid, and fleeting. But in moments of fear, uncertainty, or shock, time can appear to slow down—or even feel like it stops entirely. This is not imagination. It is the nervous system adjusting perception in real time to help us survive and respond.

The human brain is built for efficiency and prediction. Through pattern recognition, it constantly anticipates what will happen next in order to conserve energy and respond quickly to potential threats. This predictive nature allows us to move through life efficiently—but it also creates a hidden cost.

We begin to live outside of the present moment.

Our attention shifts toward the past—what has already happened—or toward the future—what we expect might happen. In doing so, we unintentionally sacrifice the richness and clarity of what is happening right now. The present moment becomes compressed, overlooked, or filtered through expectation and fear.

Attention itself requires energy. And when that attention is constantly directed toward anticipated stress, danger, or uncertainty, it creates cognitive fatigue, emotional strain, and unnecessary tension in the nervous system.

This is why self-regulation skills are essential.

When we learn to regulate our physiological response to stress—through breath control, awareness, and intentional focus—we begin to reclaim our attention. We become more accurate in reading our environment. We respond earlier, more efficiently, and with less emotional cost.

Instead of reacting to imagined threats, we begin to respond to reality.

This shift allows us to move through life with greater clarity, reduced distress, and improved performance. It enhances our ability to stay present, conserve energy, and create higher-quality experiences in real time.

And something important happens:

When we improve the quality of our present moment, we naturally begin to build a more stable, more grounded, and more fulfilling future.

Mastering time is not about controlling the clock—it is about mastering attention, perception, and response.

Train your awareness. Regulate your state. Experience time fully.

Walk well.

Hey folks, let me know what you think about the Running Man Podcast. Let me know where you're from and how you are doing in your little part of the world!

Support the show

intro outro music for episodes 1 through 111 done by Jonathan Dominguez Rogue musician. He can be found on youtube at Lazyman2303.

New musical intro and outro music created by Ed Fernandez guitarist extraordinaire. To get in contact with Ed please send me an email at runningmangetskillsproject@gmail.com and I will forward him the contact.

Donations are not expected but most certainly appreciated. Any funds will go toward further development of the podcast for equipment as we we grow the podcast. Many thanks in advance.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2216464/support

Ep 141. Personality is often treated as something fixed—an identity we carry and a label others use to define us in social life. In psychology, personality is commonly understood as the product of environment, upbringing, conditioning, and repeated exposure to life experiences.

But what if much of what we call “personality” is not who we truly are?

What if it is simply how we have learned to respond under stress?

When stress—especially chronic stress—becomes a constant in our lives, it begins to shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Over time, repeated stress responses can become so familiar that we begin to identify with them:

“I am anxious.”
“I am angry.”
“I am always tense.”
“I am a worrier.”

But neuroscience and biology tell a deeper story.

Research shows that the brain is highly adaptable (neuroplasticity). Stress doesn’t just affect how we feel—it physically shapes neural pathways and reinforces patterns of reactivity. The more often we respond to stress in the same way, the more automatic that response becomes.

This is where confusion happens.

We begin to mistake stress reactivity for personality.

In reality, many of these traits are not fixed identity—they are conditioned responses developed through repeated exposure to stress over time.

The good news is that this process can be reversed.

By practicing physiological self-regulation techniques—such as controlled breathing, body awareness, and nervous system regulation—we can begin to change how the body responds in real time. This is not just cognitive reframing or positive thinking. It is training the body itself to respond differently under pressure.

With consistent practice, the nervous system becomes more familiar with calm, control, and stability—even in high-stress situations.

And something powerful begins to happen:

We shift from reaction to response.

We begin to experience ourselves not as the stress patterns we’ve learned—but as the person beneath them.

This is the difference between:
“This is who I am”
and
“This is how I’ve been responding.”

Through self-regulation, we reclaim authorship over our internal state. We rediscover clarity, presence, and a more authentic sense of self—one that is not defined by fear, anxiety, or chronic tension.

Personality is not always permanent.
Much of it is practice.

And with new practice, new patterns—and a new experience of self—can emerge.

Take care. Walk well.

Hey folks, let me know what you think about the Running Man Podcast. Let me know where you're from and how you are doing in your little part of the world!

Support the show

intro outro music for episodes 1 through 111 done by Jonathan Dominguez Rogue musician. He can be found on youtube at Lazyman2303.

New musical intro and outro music created by Ed Fernandez guitarist extraordinaire. To get in contact with Ed please send me an email at runningmangetskillsproject@gmail.com and I will forward him the contact.

Donations are not expected but most certainly appreciated. Any funds will go toward further development of the podcast for equipment as we we grow the podcast. Many thanks in advance.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2216464/support

Ep 140. In a stressful life, confidence can feel like a fragile commodity. When stress, fear, and anxiety become frequent visitors in our personal world, our sense of certainty and control can disappear quickly. The human nervous system is constantly scanning the environment for signals of safety or threat. Every moment, our internal state responds to cues from the outside world, telling us whether we are secure or at risk.

Because of this, confidence is not simply a personality trait—it is often the result of nervous system regulation and emotional resilience.

This is where self-regulation skills become essential. Self-regulation allows us to navigate both high-stress situations and everyday experiences with greater clarity, composure, and control. When we learn how to manage our breathing, focus our attention, and regulate emotional responses, we create the internal conditions necessary for better decision-making, stronger relationships, and higher-quality experiences in life.

But developing self-regulation is not as simple as telling ourselves, “Next time I feel anxious, I’ll just breathe and everything will be fine.” Real skill development does not happen through wishful thinking.

It happens through practice.

Just like riding a bicycle, learning a new language, swimming, or mastering a piece of software, emotional regulation requires repetition and training. Over time, deliberate practice builds familiarity within the nervous system. What once felt overwhelming begins to feel manageable. What once caused hesitation or avoidance begins to feel like a challenge we can face with composure.

This process is known as building conscious competence. Through repeated exposure and intentional practice, the mind and body begin to understand how to respond effectively under pressure.

Eventually, something powerful happens: confidence begins to emerge naturally.

When we have practiced self-regulation during low-stakes moments—through breathing techniques, awareness training, and emotional control—our nervous system becomes prepared for higher-stakes situations. Stressful environments that once caused fear, anxiety, or avoidance begin to feel more navigable.

Over time, the skills become second nature.

We begin to walk into situations that once triggered stress with greater ease and clarity. Confidence is no longer something we hope for—it becomes something we carry with us, built through experience and practice.

The path is simple, though not always easy:
Practice the skill until the skill becomes who you are.

Take care. Walk well.

Hey folks, let me know what you think about the Running Man Podcast. Let me know where you're from and how you are doing in your little part of the world!

Support the show

intro outro music for episodes 1 through 111 done by Jonathan Dominguez Rogue musician. He can be found on youtube at Lazyman2303.

New musical intro and outro music created by Ed Fernandez guitarist extraordinaire. To get in contact with Ed please send me an email at runningmangetskillsproject@gmail.com and I will forward him the contact.

Donations are not expected but most certainly appreciated. Any funds will go toward further development of the podcast for equipment as we we grow the podcast. Many thanks in advance.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2216464/support