Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence

Why are we often kinder to everyone else than we are to ourselves?

In this episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I explore the relationship we have with ourselves, from the voice of our inner critic to the stories we carry about who we are.

I unpack why our inner critic may actually be trying to protect us, the difference between accountability and self-punishment, and how childhood experiences can shape the way we speak to ourselves.

I also share practical ways to recognise negative self-talk, challenge the stories you tell yourself, and develop greater self-compassion without letting yourself off the hook.

Because you don't need to love everything about yourself to start treating yourself with kindness.

Takeaways

👉 Your inner critic may be trying to protect you.

👉 Accountability doesn't require self-punishment.

👉 Your language shapes how you see yourself.

👉 Mistakes are opportunities to learn, not proof of failure.

👉 Self-compassion can create real, lasting growth.

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The Slavey of Addiction Documentary

https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin 

What happens to your confidence when the thing you thought defined you suddenly disappears?

In this episode, I explore how redundancy, rejection and career setbacks can affect our confidence and sense of identity.

I share practical ways to rebuild self-trust, process difficult emotions, and separate what has happened to you from who you are.

Because losing a job doesn't mean you've lost your value.

Confidence isn't something you simply think your way into; it’s something you rebuild through small actions, promises kept, and evidence that you can trust yourself again.

Takeaways

👉 Confidence is built through action.

👉 Your job doesn't define your worth.

👉 Rejection doesn't determine your value.

👉 Accepting emotions helps you move forward.

👉 Small promises build self-trust.

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www.johnnylawrence.co.uk

Johnny’s Instagram

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Podcast Instagram

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The Slavey of Addiction Documentary

https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin 

Why do I replay conversations in my head and wonder if I said the wrong thing?

In this episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I explore why our brains overanalyse conversations, how our need to belong can make us obsess over what other people think, and why we often confuse the facts of what happened with the stories we create afterwards.

I also share practical ways to break the cycle of rumination, challenge anxious thoughts, and develop more self-compassion when your brain won't switch off.

Because sometimes the conversation isn't the problem.

The story you're telling yourself about it is.

Takeaways

👉 Your brain overthinks to protect your sense of belonging.

👉 Most overthinking comes from stories, not facts.

👉 The spotlight effect makes us overestimate how much others notice us.

👉 Perfectionism can fuel overthinking and self-doubt.

👉 Self-compassion and limiting rumination can help break the cycle.

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www.johnnylawrence.co.uk

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@whydoidothisofficial

The Slavey of Addiction Documentary

https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin 

With Aitch: Don't Be Afraid now streaming on Netflix, I wanted to reshare one of the most meaningful conversations I've ever recorded.

In this special episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I sit down with my Kilimanjaro teammates, Team 21, to reflect on the emotional, physical, and life-changing journey that became part of the Netflix documentary.

We talk about why we took on the challenge, the friendships forged through adversity, the lessons we learned on the mountain, and how climbing Kilimanjaro in support of the Down Syndrome Association changed each of us forever.

If you've watched the documentary, or you're about to, this is the story behind the climb.

👉 Growth begins where your comfort zone ends.

👉 Shared challenges create lifelong friendships.

👉 Purpose makes even the hardest journeys worthwhile.

👉 Resilience is built one step at a time.

👉 Sometimes the biggest transformation happens long before you reach the summit.

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Podcast Instagram

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The Slavey of Addiction Documentary

https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin 

Why can grief make us feel so alone, even when we're surrounded by people?

In this episode, I sit down with Sophie Alway to discuss her deeply personal journey through grief, mental health struggles, and how she transformed unimaginable loss into a mission that's changing lives.

Sophie shares the story behind Georgia's Voice and why giving young women the language to understand and express their emotions has never been more important. 

We also explore the impact of social media on mental health, the healing power of vulnerability, and why genuine connection is often the first step towards recovery.

This is a moving conversation about resilience, self-awareness, and discovering purpose through pain.

Takeaways

👉Grief is easier to carry when it's shared.

👉Vulnerability creates connection, not weakness.

👉Emotional language helps us heal.

👉Community is a powerful part of recovery.

👉Self-awareness is the foundation of self-love.

👉Pain can become purpose.

Find Georgia’s Voice

https://georgiasvoice.co.uk/ 

https://www.facebook.com/georgiasvoiceuk/?locale=en_GB 

https://www.instagram.com/georgiasvoiceuk/?hl=en-gb 

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Website

www.johnnylawrence.co.uk

Johnny’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/johnnylawrenceuk?igsh=MWkzNnR5ZHZod3lsZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

The Slavey of Addiction Documentary

https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin 

Have you achieved the goals you once dreamed of... only to realise you still don't feel fulfilled?

In this episode, I explore why success doesn't always lead to happiness and why so many people feel empty despite ticking every box they thought would make life meaningful.

I unpack the difference between achievement and fulfilment, how societal and parental expectations shape our definition of success, and why that lingering feeling of emptiness might actually be pointing you towards a more authentic life.

I also share practical exercises to help you reconnect with your core values, discover what truly makes you feel alive, and build a life that's driven by purpose—not just achievement.

Because success asks, "What have I achieved?"

Fulfilment asks, "Who am I becoming?"

Takeaways

👉Achievement and fulfilment are not the same.

👉Success is hollow without alignment to your values.

👉Emptiness can be an invitation to change.

👉Your definition of success doesn't have to be inherited.

👉Purpose is found in who you're becoming.

👉Values create a meaningful life—not just goals.

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*NEW* Anger Isn’t Your Problem Workshop

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/life-lessons-anger 

The Self M.A.D.E. Course

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/self-made-course  

The Life Audit

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/free-life-audit 

Website

www.johnnylawrence.co.uk

Johnny’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/johnnylawrenceuk?igsh=MWkzNnR5ZHZod3lsZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

The Slavey of Addiction Documentary

https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin 

Welcome to Why Do I Do This? with me, Johnny Lawrence.

A podcast about understanding yourself.

Every week, I’ll answer a listener’s question and explore the psychology, emotions and hidden patterns behind why we think, feel and behave the way we do. 

Once a month, I’ll also be joined by a special guest to bring new perspectives and practical insights to the conversation.

We’ll explore questions like…

👉 Why do I overthink?

👉 Why do I people-please?

👉 Why do I get so angry?

👉 Why do I keep procrastinating?

👉 Why do I struggle with confidence?

👉 Why do I keep repeating the same patterns?

👉 Why do I push people away?

👉 Why do I care so much what other people think?

Because the first step to changing your life is understanding why you do what you do.

🎙️ New episodes every Wednesday.

💬 Have a question you’d like answered? 

Leave it in the comments or send me a DM; it might be featured in a future episode.

Johnny. 🙏🏽

Have you ever stopped and wondered... when was the last time I genuinely felt joy?

In this episode, I explore why so many people struggle to experience happiness, even when life looks fine on the surface.

I unpack how stress, emotional overload, and a constantly activated nervous system can disconnect us from joy, and why finding happiness isn't about chasing bigger moments, it's about learning to recognise the small ones we've stopped noticing.

I also share practical ways to regulate your emotions, reconnect with yourself, and use curiosity as a tool for rediscovering what truly brings you to life.

Because joy isn't something you find.

It's something you create space for.

Takeaways

👉Stress can disconnect you from joy.

👉Emotional regulation makes happiness more accessible.

👉Curiosity is the gateway to self-discovery.

👉You have to recognise joy before you can experience it.

👉Small moments often create the greatest happiness.

👉Joy grows when you give yourself permission to feel it.

SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE

https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter 

*NEW* Anger Isn’t Your Problem Workshop

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/life-lessons-anger 

The Self M.A.D.E. Course

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/self-made-course  

The Life Audit

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/free-life-audit 

Website

www.johnnylawrence.co.uk

Johnny’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/theselfdevelopmentcoach/?hl=en-gb 

The Slavey of Addiction Documentary

https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin 

Why do you always put everyone else's needs before your own… and then end up resenting them for it?

In this episode, I answer a listener's question and explore why so many of us become people-pleasers, where it begins, and how it's often rooted in childhood conditioning rather than genuine kindness.

I explain the difference between being kind and seeking approval, why resentment is usually a sign of an unmet need, and how setting healthy boundaries isn't selfish, it's an act of self-respect.

If you've ever struggled to say no, feared disappointing others, or felt responsible for everyone else's happiness, this episode will help you understand why and what to do about it.

Takeaways

👉People-pleasing is often self-protection, not kindness.

👉Resentment is a sign of an unmet need.

👉Boundaries protect relationships and self-respect.

👉Awareness is the first step to lasting change.

👉Small boundaries build lasting confidence.

👉You teach people how to treat you.

MEN BEHAVING HONESTLY PODCAST

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SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE

https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter 

*NEW* Anger Isn’t Your Problem Workshop

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/life-lessons-anger 

The Self M.A.D.E. Course

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/self-made-course  

The Life Audit

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/free-life-audit 

Website

www.johnnylawrence.co.uk

Johnny’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/theselfdevelopmentcoach/?hl=en-gb 

The Slavey of Addiction Documentary

https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin 

Why can one rejection stay with us for days, weeks, or even years?

In this episode, I share a personal experience of rejection and explore why it affects us so deeply. I unpack what's happening in the brain, why rejection often feels personal, and how the stories we tell ourselves can make the pain even worse.

I also explain rejection sensitivity, how to separate facts from assumptions, and share practical tools to help you respond to rejection with greater confidence, resilience, and self-awareness.

Because rejection isn't proof that you're not enough.

It's simply an event, not your identity.

Takeaways

👉Rejection is an event, not your identity.

👉Rejection often triggers a survival response.

👉The story you tell yourself shapes the pain you feel.

👉Separate facts from assumptions.

👉Feedback isn't always a reflection of your worth.

👉Growth requires the courage to risk rejection.

SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE

https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter 

*NEW* Anger Isn’t Your Problem Workshop

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/life-lessons-anger 

The Self M.A.D.E. Course

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/self-made-course  

The Life Audit

https://www.theselfdevelopmentcoach.com/free-life-audit 

Website

www.johnnylawrence.co.uk

Johnny’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/theselfdevelopmentcoach/?hl=en-gb 

The Slavey of Addiction Documentary

https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin