The chase for status is loud. The quiet work of self-worth is louder. We sit down with midlife self-love coach Jonathan Ashley to unpack how men can build genuine confidence without the scoreboard—by caring for the “emotional six-year-old” inside, stepping into the observer’s seat, and practicing non-attachment so expectations stop running the show.

Jonathan shares a practical framework: self-love as the bundle of self-worth, self-esteem, self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-discipline, activated through daily reps. We dig into the tools that create emotional scaffolding before life shakes—journaling that names real feelings, meditation and breathwork to calm the nervous system, yoga to connect body and heart, therapy to untie childhood knots, and books that offer language for growth. Along the way, we tackle comparison culture and the myth of the “four sixes,” making the case for moving competition to the court and turning friendship into a refuge for truth.

You’ll hear how service multiplies “emotional currency,” why vulnerability isn’t venting but honest ownership, and how surrender shifts your experience from judgment to peace. With stories, book recs, and hard-won wisdom, Jonathan shows that steady inner worth can survive career swings, breakups, and the internet’s highlight reels. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence. Choose one habit today—five minutes of breath, a page of journaling, a call to a friend—and make a deposit into your emotional bank account.

If this conversation helps, follow and share it with someone who needs a steadier inner base. Subscribe for more thoughtful, heart-led growth, and leave a review to tell us what you’ll practice this week.

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Want to be a guest on Playing Injured? Send Joshua Dillingham a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/playinginjured

Want weight loss that actually lasts? We sit down with Dr. Pavy Cannall, a surgeon with nearly two decades of experience, to unpack why the breakthrough most people need isn’t a new meal plan—it’s a new mindset. From identity shifts to social pressure, from emotional eating to constant digital distraction, we pull apart the hidden forces that derail progress and share simple, repeatable tools that put you back in control.

Dr. Pavy explains how his most successful patients treated surgery as one tool among many, then rebuilt their habits and self-image to match the life they wanted. We explore the difference between physical and emotional hunger, the circuit-breaker question that stops autopilot snacking, and the power of journaling to reveal patterns you can actually change. We dive into mindful eating—no screens, slower bites, clearer signals—and how short daily meditation builds the presence you need to make better choices under stress.

You’ll hear how to visualize high-risk moments before they happen, design an environment that removes “weight gain enablers,” and use community and accountability when your current circle resists your growth. We also challenge outcome obsession: goals set direction, but systems deliver results. When the scale stalls, your process—sleep, movement, protein, mindfulness—keeps compounding until the body catches up. If you’re ready to shift from willpower sprints to identity-level change, this conversation gives you a practical path forward.

Subscribe for more mindset-first health conversations, share this with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review to tell us which tool you’ll try this week.

Contact Us

Support the show

Want to be a guest on Playing Injured? Send Joshua Dillingham a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/playinginjured

Contact Us

Support the show

Want to be a guest on Playing Injured? Send Joshua Dillingham a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/playinginjured