In this solo coaching talk, Jake Burhans warns against using the practice of awareness as a tool for self‑criticism. He explains that when we become aware of limiting thoughts, emotions, or reactions and then judge ourselves for having them, our nervous system interprets the self‑judgment as a threat, pushing us into a deeper dysregulated state. Burhans emphasizes that the goal of mindfulness is not to never experience dysregulation, but to notice (catch) those moments quickly and return to a regulated state. Each successful catch is a win, and the more often we catch and return, the longer we stay in the desired, regulated state, reducing future lapses. The talk frames self‑judgment as counter‑productive and positions mindful catching as the practical metric of progress.
