We all have "versions" of ourselves built for survival. But what happens when those protectors—the walls we built to stay safe—start keeping us from growing? In this episode, Cory J Riggs discusses the internal ecosystem, the ego's "warm blanket" of familiar pain, and why there are no shortcuts on the path to healing.

​Resources:

Explore more at the Blog: https://www.coryjriggs.com/blog

Official Podcast Page: https://www.coryjriggs.com/podcast

​#WellnessJourney #InnerWork #MindsetShift #ConsciousLiving #MentalHealthMatters

"Tomorrow" is a thief that never pays what it owes. In this vulnerable session, Cory J Riggs explores the sacred 5:00 AM window where the day is born and the ego is silenced. Learn why surrender isn't a one-time event, but a daily requirement to stay grounded in a world trying to pull you in ten different directions. It doesn’t matter how good yesterday was—we start at zero today.

​Get more insight at: https://www.coryjriggs.com/blog

​Follow me @CoryJRiggs on all socials

Search 'This Tree and Me' on your favorite podcast platform

​#InnerWork #Discipline #SpiritualGrowth #SelfMastery #Accountability

Stop fighting yourself. In this episode, Cory J Riggs breaks down why the concept of "killing the ego" is a myth that keeps us stuck in a cycle of internal war. Cory shares the raw details of his morning ritual where he stopped trying to "exhale" the ego and instead started a dialogue with the protectors he created as a child and a teenager. Learn how to identify your own internal protectors, ask the right questions, and move toward a life of Conscious Wisdom and unity.
​Get more insight at: https://www.coryjriggs.com/blog
​Follow me @CoryJRiggs on all socials
Search "This Tree and Me" on your favorite podcast platform
​#JayShetty #Ego #Mindset #Healing #ConsciousWisdom #SelfImprovement

In this episode of "The Tree and Me," Cory J Riggs explores the "Illusion of Progress" and the trap of the New Year's resolution myth. When we rush, we mistake speed for direction. Cory shares his personal journey of "bringing it down" to a place of success by putting pen to paper and mapping out a daily structure that is almost scripted. It’s about doing the work when nobody is watching and making promises that you can actually keep.
​Key Topics Covered:
​Breaking the habit of making promises we can't keep.
​Identifying "who and what" you are trying to become.
​Defining non-negotiables and the work done when it's just you by yourself.
​Moving from the noise of "more" into the speed of stillness.
​Call to Action:
If this message resonated with you, please subscribe and join our community. I’d love to hear from you—what is one promise you can actually keep today?
​Links:
Visit coryjriggs.com for more insights and to connect with Cory.

In the season two premiere of "The Tree and Me," Cory J Riggs explores the "Industrial Arc"—the historical cycle of progress that often prioritizes the machine over the man. Cory shares a provocative perspective on why he is thankful for the stillness the pandemic forced upon us and how it stripped away our "armor" to reveal our shared humanity. ​This episode is a guide for anyone feeling outpaced by the modern world, offering a roadmap to move from the "backstory" into the "Becoming." We dive into the "two sides of the coin"—how technology was expedited to cover our loneliness, and how we are now finding the strength to return to real, human connection. ​Key Topics: ​The Industrial Arc: From Steel Mills to AI. ​The Digital Trap: When screens became companions. ​Mental Health Realism: Running the same human race. ​Why Humanity is the only key that fits 2026. ​Connect with Cory: Website: coryjriggs.com Social Media: @coryjriggs ​#MentalHealth #Humanity #Mindset #Growth #Spirituality #Leadership #Psychology #Unity #ConsciousWisdom #Wellness #Perspective

What is more scary: letting go, or becoming?
​In this year-end finale, Cory J Riggs explores the irrationality of the human ego—the part of us that would rather stay in a familiar hell than risk an unknown heaven. Drawing from his own 45-year journey back to the "little dude" he left behind in the 5th grade, Cory challenges the idea that staying guarded is the safe path.
​As we stand on the edge of 2026 and the "Industrial Arc," we discuss why keeping humanity at the center of our lives is the only way to navigate a world dominated by AI and technology.
​Turn the mirror around. Look with empathy. Let’s start the work.
​Season 2 of "The Tree and Me" begins this Sunday.
​#TheRiskOfHappiness #IndustrialArc #HumanityFirst #MentalHealth #SelfImprovement #Storytelling

The bill always comes due.
​We tell ourselves that staying in that relationship is "safe." We tell ourselves that shrinking down to make others comfortable is just being "polite." But the cost isn't just your peace—it is your heart.
​In the Season 1 Finale of The Tree and Me, Cory J Riggs takes a hard look at the "ledger" of our lives. We discuss the "Hollow Man" syndrome, the exhausting price of toxic positivity, and the raw accountability required to stop waging war against yourself.
​Key Takeaways:
​The Invisible Debt: What are you buying with your silence?
​The Empty Cup: You cannot feed others when you haven't eaten in years.
​The Harvest: The quiet, steady strength of finally standing in your own truth.
​Looking Ahead: Stick around until the very end for a special announcement regarding the "Industrial Arc" coming in Season 2 (2026).
​You can watch or listen to this wherever you get your podcasts.
🔗 Website: https://coryjriggs.com

This episode isn’t just about looking back at 2025—it’s about what 2025 taught me: how to look within.

The hardest work isn’t what happens out there—it’s what happens inside. It’s facing the questions you’ve avoided, the truths you’ve buried, and the patterns that keep you stuck.

Looking within is uncomfortable. It’s messy. It’s humbling. But it’s also where the real change begins.

And here’s the beauty: when you choose to look within, you uncover your calling. You discover the path you were meant to walk. You let the light inside finally shine, and you begin to live the life you were created for.

Website: https://CoryJRiggs.com
🎙️ This Tree and Me — available wherever you watch or listen to podcasts.

There’s a moment in growth where movement feels like momentum—where improvement feels like transformation—yet something inside knows we’re still capable of more.

This episode explores that tension:
• the comfort of “better”
• the plateau disguised as progress
• the voice that says “good enough”
• and the quiet intuition that says “not yet”

This is not a message of shame.
It’s a message of potential.

Recognizing the illusion of progress isn’t failure.
It’s the first step toward deeper, truer, more intentional growth.

Website: https://CoryJRiggs.com  
This Tree and Me is available wherever you watch or listen to your podcasts.

This Blessed & Grateful Wednesday honors the season of my life known as Coach Cory—where discipline, humility, and growth were forged on the sidelines long before podcasting, wellness, or spirituality ever entered the frame. 

This episode explores:
• how coaching shaped the man I became
• why humility was the turning point
• the cultures and people who changed me
• and the moment I knew it was time to let go

Some stories end not because they’re broken—but because the lesson is complete.

All socials: @coryjriggs  
This Tree and Me is available wherever you watch or listen to your podcasts.

#spiritualgrowth #healingjourney #wellnesscoach #mindfulness #selfawareness #lifelessons #growthmindset #genx #humility #coachlife #transformation