Distance trapped self, crush limits 🚀

Hey champion,

Imagine Moses standing at the edge of the Red Sea...

Egyptian armies thundering behind him...

His people crying out in terror...

But instead of panicking, he separated himself from fear...

Raised his staff...

And split the waters wide open. 🌊

That's exactly what you're about to do...

With your trapped, ordinary self.

The Prison You Don't Know You're In

Meet your "Trapped Self"...

The version of you stuck in the Ordinary World. [1]

It's comfortable there...

Safe...

Predictable...

Like a minimum-security prison with Netflix and snacks. 🍿

But comfort is where dreams go to die.

Your Trapped Self whispers sweet lies:

• "Playing it safe is smart"

• "You're too old to change"

• "This is just who you are"

Meanwhile...

Your Extraordinary Self is screaming to break free...

Like Tony Stark trapped in that cave...

Building his first Iron Man suit from scraps. 🔧

The Reframing Drill That Changes Everything [2][9]

Time to separate from your ordinary self:

Step 1: Observe [Your name]'s prison 

• What habits keep [Your name] trapped?

• What stories does [Your name] tell himself?

• What would [Your name]'s life look like in 5 years... if nothing changes?

Step 2: Ask the superhero question 

"What would Iron Man do in [Your name]'s situation?"

or... "How would Batman handle [Your name]'s challenges?"

Step 3: Step into your freedom 

Write this down: "[Your name] used to _______, but the hero version chooses _______."

Example: "John used to avoid conflict, but Hero John addresses issues head-on."

Bottom line: You respond to challenges for good.

Not just in therapy sessions... "What-if scenarios"... or theory...

but in everyday life.

For the things that matter most to YOU.

TESTS & RANGES:

Psychological Flexibility Assessment: 

• Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II): Score below 24 indicates high flexibility [3]

• Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire: Lower scores = better separation from thoughts [5]

• Values in Action Survey: Identifies your heroic strengths [6][7][8]

Performance States: [subjective with research]

• Trapped State: Cortisol 15-25 μg/dL (chronic stress range)

• Flow State: Cortisol 5-10 μg/dL (optimal performance) [4]

• Hero State: Balanced cortisol with elevated dopamine

Real Life Application

Meet Richard. A 48-year-old surgeon...

Realized his Trapped Self was drowning in perfectionism...

Terrified of making mistakes...

Until he asked: "What would Captain America do?"

The answer?

"Take action despite the fear... because that's what heroes do." 🛡️

Now he performs life-saving surgeries...

With the steady hands of a superhero.

Your extraordinary world awaits, warrior.

To breaking your chains,

Mens Health Secrets 
–Live Past 100

P.S. Tomorrow, we ignite your heroic traits instantly... like King Solomon downloading wisdom directly from the divine. Get ready to unlock superpowers you've always had. 🔥

P.P.S. Always consult your physician before implementing new health strategies. This information is for educational and entertainment purposes.

P.P.P.S. >>> Go here to subscribe to our Mens Health Secrets YouTube Channel if you haven't yet... leave a comment... and level up your Mens Health knowledge to live longer.

P.P.P.P.S New Skool.com community coming online soon. Come break "virtual bread" and level-up… with other like-minded men age 40 and up. This is your tribe. Join now. Perks of joining now? It's Free for LIFE. Price activates Q2 2026.

Medical References: 

[1] Herman, T. (2019). The Alter Ego Effect: The power of secret identities to transform your life. Harper Business. ISBN (hardcover): 978-0062838636 https://alteregoeffect.com/book/ https://www.amazon.com/Alter-Ego-Effect-Identities-Transform/dp/0062838636/

[2] Cutuli D. Cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression strategies role in the emotion regulation: an overview on their modulatory effects and neural correlates. Front Syst Neurosci. 2014 Sep 19;8:175. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2014.00175. PMID: 25285072; PMCID: PMC4168764.

[3] Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., Baer, R. A., Carpenter, K. M., Guenole, N., Orcutt, H. K., ... & Zettle, R. D. (2011). Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II: A revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance. Behavior Therapy, 42(4), 676-688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2011.03.007 https://stevenchayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Acceptance-and-Action-Questionnaire.pdf

[4] Dickerson, S. S., & Kemeny, M. E. (2004). Acute stressors and cortisol responses: A theoretical integration and synthesis of laboratory research. Psychological Bulletin, 130(3), 355-391. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.130.3.355

[5] Gillanders, D. T., Bolderston, H., Bond, F. W., Dempster, M., Flaxman, P. E., Campbell, L., Kerr, S., Tansey, L., Noel, P., Ferenbach, C., Masley, S., Roach, L., Lloyd, J., May, L., Clarke, S., Remington, R. (2014) The development and initial validation of The Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire. Behavior Therapy, 45, 83-101, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2013.09.001. https://www.appi.org/getattachment/1d28ab89-90d0-4eb9-b9a3-220c3958af07/APAP_37173_Learning-Acceptance_Goubert_CT-7_Cognitive-Fusion-Questionnaire.pdf

[6] Peterson, Christopher & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. Washington, D.C.: APA Press and Oxford University Press. https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/4317046/

[7] VIA Institute on Character. (n.d.). VIA character strength research findings. https://www.viacharacter.org/research/findings#nav

[8] VIA Institute on Character. (n.d.). The VIA classification of 24 character strengths. https://www.viacharacter.org/resources/activities/the-via-classification-of-twenty-four-character-strengths

[9] Wang YX, Yin B. A new understanding of the cognitive reappraisal technique: an extension based on the schema theory. Front Behav Neurosci. 2023 Apr 17;17:1174585. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1174585. PMID: 37138662; PMCID: PMC10149752.