things were so much simpler

Things were different when I was a kid.

No one talked to us about mental health, stress, or mindfulness.

I didn’t need a reminder to breathe— I spent most of my time out of breath.

And no, I’m not talking about sports. We blew off steam through something much simpler:

Street games. 

The pure competition of 8-12 neighborhood kids playing like there’s no tomorrow…

Looking back, I realize those games weren’t just fun—they gave us an outlet.

It was training in maintaining a good attitude, problem-solving on the fly, and working together

As kids, stress, competition, and challenge made us grow. But as adults, stress isn’t the same.

It’s no longer about running around with friends after school. We’re dealing with deadlines, responsibilities, and expectations that don’t leave much room for blowing off steam.

And when stress builds? It slowly chips away at your physical and mental health.

Sleepless nights. Foggy thoughts. Feeling overwhelmed by the smallest things.

The stress that once helped you grow now threatens to pull you under.

That’s why we can’t just push through stress like we did as kids. We need to be intentional about finding ways to handle it and recover.

Whether it’s therapy, meditation, or taking breaks in nature, you need to know when to step back.

The lesson isn’t just about embracing stress as an agent of growth—it’s about knowing when to let it go.

Your mental health deserves the same care and attention that you once gave to winning those street games.

Challenge yourself, yes. But take care of yourself, too

With gratitude,
Brian Maierhofer

P.S. Thanks so much for your feedback on last Friday’s email—it's incredibly helpful as I fine-tune this course for you.

I’m creating a simple, 20-minute Stress Release Technique to help eliminate anxiety, overwhelm, and brain fog for good.

You’ll learn it in 7 days time. I can’t wait to share it with you!