Loretta Breuning: Master Your Mind

Fear is a universal experience, hardwired into our brains from childhood. In my recent conversation with Loretta Breuning, we explored how fear shapes our thoughts and behaviors. Loretta explained that many people either see themselves as lifelong trauma victims or believe they should be happy all the time—both extremes that can be misleading. Instead, she encourages us to recognize that fear is natural. As children, we depend on others for survival, wiring our brains to be on high alert. The challenge of adulthood is learning to trust our ability to meet our own needs, rather than being controlled by past fear pathways.

Loretta shared an insightful analogy: think of fear as a highway in your brain. If you've traveled that road many times, it becomes the automatic route your mind takes. But instead of trying to demolish the highway, she suggests building exit ramps—small, intentional shifts in thinking that redirect your fear response. When we recognize our fears as learned patterns, we can start rewiring our brains by repeatedly practicing new responses. However, she also reminds us that fear chemicals linger for about an hour, so stepping away and engaging in a positive activity before tackling the thought pattern again can be helpful.

One of the most powerful takeaways from our discussion was how fear of death influences much of our anxiety. Loretta explained that as teenagers, we become aware of our mortality, and without realizing it, we develop habits to avoid thinking about it—sometimes in ways that hold us back. By recognizing this, we can make more intentional choices about how we respond to fear. If you’re curious to hear more about this enlightening conversation, tune in to the full episode of Conversations with Carroll.

Listen to the full episode here! 🎧✨ Youtube | Spotify | Apple