Midlife can feel like a storm inside your head — racing thoughts, old regrets, an uncertain future. For men over 50, this “midlife angst” often shows up as stress, irritability, or a vague emptiness you can’t quite name.

In this episode of Good Grief, John Doe, experiential psychologist Nelson Pahl introduces Sensory Mapping — a simple yet powerful tool to reconnect with your body, calm your nervous system, and uncover the real emotions behind the chaos.

You’ll discover how to:

• Ground yourself using your five senses
• Translate vague feelings into vivid clarity
• Release the hidden tension behind anger and anxiety
• Calm the inner storm and reclaim your presence

Whether you’re navigating identity loss, old expectations, or the quiet ache of midlife, Sensory Mapping can help you process what’s unspoken — and move forward with strength.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to turn midlife angst into midlife clarity.

Topics in this Episode

• What is Sensory Mapping (0:48)
• How Sensory Mapping Helps You (1:28)
• How to Start Sensory Mapping Today (2:00)
• A Personal Example of this Somatic Exercise (3:33)

Healing Links

28-Day Challenge: Resurrection Camp

Supporting Links

Empirical Research: Interoceptive Awareness & Emotional Regulation
Neuroscience Research: Mindfulness and Sensory Processing
Clinical Research: Somatic Experiencing Effectiveness
Harvard Health Article: ”What is Somatic Therapy?

Next Episode: Men Over 50: Create a Moment that Marks the Change (Good Grief, John Doe mini-course - Part 3)

About the Host

Nelson Pahl, Ph.D. is an experiential psychologist that helps midlife men reclaim identity and reinvent themselves through his proprietary approaches, including Resurrection Camp, the Six Stones Retreat Arc, and his Legacy Lab. He is also author of the upcoming book, The Upside of Gauguin Syndrome.