This episode of The Mike Method explores how early conditioning shapes identity and why the mind and nervous system often keep people stuck in old patterns, even when life is going well. Mike sits down with Lynn Sumida, a master level social worker, trauma specialist, international facilitator, and founder of Expanding You.

Lynn has spent decades helping people reset their nervous systems so they can move from surviving to thriving. Lynn shares a core idea: people are already whole, complete, and worthy. Many learn early in life that love and value must be earned. Those early messages form what she calls a constructed identity, a box built from family systems, formative moments, and “be good” expectations. Achieving, striving, and comparing inside that box often feels empty because the identity underneath is tied to performance.

They dive into topics like..

• Why comparison is a thief of joy and how “me versus me” can still reinforce the same limits when worth is based on achievement.
• How the mind can present old information as truth because it is focused on protection.
• Why the nervous system often overrides rational thinking and continues to react to past experiences even when current circumstances are positive. Mike shares a personal example of this pattern during a period of business success.
• How early experiences can create long-lasting beliefs, such as associating self-expression with rejection, and how those beliefs influence adult choices.
• Lynn’s recent experience in a car accident and how she remained calm and grounded, illustrating what can shift when the system is reset.
• How presence becomes more accessible when old protective patterns lose their influence.

This episode offers language, frameworks, and practical insight for anyone who has ever wondered why they repeat patterns they understand but have not yet changed! We know you will love it.

Episode Resources:

Lynn Sumida: LinkedIn

Expanding You

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

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