The Whole Problem
✉️ A letter from me about what's really wrong, and how to fix it
[🧠 Paid subscribers: be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for your weekly deep dive.]
Hey friend,
Every problem in the world starts the same way, inside someone’s head.
Before a person lashes out, quits, cheats, lies, drinks too much, judges, gossips, or gives up—it begins as a thought. That’s why Paul said in Ephesians 4:17 that all the chaos and corruption of the world began “in the futility of their thinking.”
The brain doesn’t start wars. The mind does.
Hands don’t send angry texts. Thoughts do.
Every thought you have begins as an immaterial mental event, and through quantum processes we’re only beginning to understand, it becomes a series of electrical, chemical, and biological events that reshape your brain. Thoughts become things, literally. They change your neurochemistry, influence your hormones, modify gene expression, affect others in innumerable ways, and drive the choices that shape your reality.
So when life feels broken, or the world seems dark, remember: the problem isn’t out there.
It’s in the thinking that made it so.
And before you object- “Wait, Lee, there are real, truly bad things happening out there that aren’t caused by my thinking!”- you’re right. But think about it: you can still have a good day even when hard things happen, and you’ve had plenty of bad days while surrounded by people you love, doing things you usually enjoy.
The difference?
Your thoughts, perceptions, and attitudes.
And that’s actually good news, because if broken thinking caused the mess, transformed thinking can heal it.
✍️ For Free Subscribers: Something You Can Do Today
Before you rush into your next task, take thirty seconds to check where your mind is.
Ask yourself:
Am I here, in this moment, or lost in replaying something that already happened, or pre-living something that hasn’t?
Am I seeing the person in front of me, or are they blurry because I’m inside my own head?
Am I noticing the good things around me—the coffee, the music, the kindness, the fact that I’m breathing—or am I filtering for what’s wrong?
If you find yourself anywhere but the present, pause.
Take one deep breath.
Name three things that are true right now.
That’s not just mindfulness, it’s neurosurgery for your attention.
Every time you bring your awareness back, you weaken the neural circuits of worry and strengthen the ones that keep you grounded, peaceful, and connected.
Then, when a negative or self-defeating thought shows up, perform a quick thought biopsy:
Notice it.
Ask if it’s true, helpful, and aligned with who you want to become.
If not, replace it with something that is.
You just practiced self-brain surgery.
I’ve got so much more for you when my new book comes out in about four months! You’ll be a master self-brain surgeon in no time.
But the good news is, you can start today!
‼️ Paid subscribers: make sure to scroll to the bottom for your weekly deep-dive ‼️
📢 A Final Word From Me
If thoughts are the seed, then your life is the harvest.
Every invention, act of courage, prayer, sin, or kindness began as a thought.
The mind is the forge where the future is made.
So today’s operation isn’t for your circumstances, it’s for your thoughts.
Change them, and you’ll change your brain.
Change your brain, and you’ll change your life.
Hit reply and let us know something you’re going to start thinking about in a new way using self-brain surgery.
Be sure to check out the archive of previous posts if you missed last week’s letter.
Dum spiro spero (While I breathe, I hope),
Lee
II Timothy 1:7, “For you were not given a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.”
From the banks of the North Platte river on Moon River Ranch in Nebraska, USA
Disclaimer: This letter is for informational purposes only. It contains general information, drawn from my experience, research, and best practices. It is not health care advice, and is not intended to replace the counsel of your health care provider. Consult your provider before starting any new treatments or making changes to your health routine.
I cannot give you advice or answer questions about your medical or mental health care, recommend providers or treatments to you, or comment on your specific situation.
A member of our team will respond to general inquiries or point you to resources as possible. Personal messages are forwarded to me, but no response is guaranteed.
This message does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship between us.
