In this episode of Filter Optional, Chico and Shannon West walk through a real-life moment of anxiety, shame, and self-doubt—and the practical steps to move through it.

After making an honest mistake, Shannon shares how quickly the mind can spiral into fear, false narratives, and identity-based shame. Together, they unpack a powerful framework for emotional health: identify, investigate, regulate—a process that helps you move from reaction to intentional response .

This episode is a raw and honest look at what happens internally when things go wrong—and how self-awareness, regulation tools, and truth can bring you back to clarity and peace.

Key Points

- The identify, investigate, regulate framework for emotional health 

- Why mistakes often trigger false narratives and identity-based shame

- The difference between feelings and truth

- How the brain reacts to emotional threats like physical danger

- What the “scramble” looks like: anxiety, overthinking, and shutdown

- Practical tools for regulation: breathing, prayer, grounding, and action

- Why owning mistakes builds integrity, trust, and connection

Takeaway

You can’t stop the initial emotional reaction—but you can choose what happens next. When you identify what you’re feeling, investigate what’s true, and regulate your response, mistakes become opportunities for growth instead of spirals of shame.