E169 David Amerland Personal Responsibility

Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 169
Date: April 22, 2025

Participants: John Webster, Riley Thompson and Sheila Webster

Guest: David Amerland

Start Times and Segments:

[0:00:17] What’s On Your Mind: Riley raises a topic that touches on mental health and criminal law – not guilty by reason of mental disorder, sometimes referred to as the insanity defense. Is there balanced approach that considers the rights of both criminals and victims? Does the stigma surrounding mental illness affect how we navigate the complexities of mental health in criminal cases?

[0:13:20] Expanding Minds Interview: [Physical and Mental Wellness] We chat with David Amerland, the author of Built to Last and other books. We talk about the benefits of personal responsibility. It isn’t just a value—it’s a mindset that reshapes life. The moment that truth became clear, everything else began to shift for David. Physical exercise was the entry point. It demanded effort, consistency, and resilience, but what it really developed was ownership—of time, choices, and mindset. That ownership spilled into every area: better thinking, more balanced emotions, improved decision-making. Life stopped feeling chaotic because internal control took priority over external noise. Responsibility meant understanding that nothing truly changes until it’s faced and owned. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about showing up and being honest about the work needed. Taking responsibility isn’t easy, but it brings clarity, stability, and power. And over time, that steady practice leads to a better life—not because circumstances get easier, but because we become stronger, more capable, and more in tune with who we truly are.

[0:30:40] Flipside of the Coin: Sheila found a post about different love languages: physical touch, acts of service, gift giving, quality time, and words of affirmation. Misunderstandings arise when love expressions don’t align. What do listeners think? How might understanding love languages transform things we miss into meaningful expressions of affection?

Takeaways:

David – Essentially, exercise is a stressor. It activates a number of internal states within us, which begin to go out of kilter. Our body then takes countermeasures into a homeostatic and acceptable base.

David – If we have trained those neurons to react in a specific way to stress in a stressful environment and we control them better, then they will react equally well in a different kind of stressful situation.

David – We need to have an emotional connection to what we're trying to achieve.

David – True empowerment is internal. If we want to feel that we're in control of us and our life, the first thing we must do is actually acknowledge that the external world impacts us.

David – People who are physically active are happier because the internal states have been balanced. They are less reactive to the internal world; they have better emotional regulation.

David – Exercise raises the levels up to some acceptable sort of parameters and from there it strengthens the connection of the brain to control these things.

David – We make slightly better decisions than everybody else... and that slightly better leads us to better outcomes consistently.

Guest Information: David Amerland writes about how we grow stronger—physically, mentally, and emotionally. In books like Built to Last and The Sniper Mind, he blends neuroscience, fitness, and personal development into clear, actionable frameworks. A black belt martial artist, David draws from his training to explore motivation, resilience, and the power of movement to transform lives. He also writes on tech and strategy, including Google Semantic Search, helping professionals adapt in the digital age. Whether through writing or speaking, his goal is the same: to help people gain control of their lives, improve their health, and build habits that truly last.

Website: https://davidamerland.com/
Books: https://davidamerland.com/books

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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-)   Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle, Noura, Julie and Riley