How to Not Overthink: A Former Monk's Tools for a Calm, Clear Mind | Sam Yo | Happiness | E525

Have you ever felt like every tab in your brain is open, and not one of them will close? That was Sam Yo at 23, the year before he walked away from a successful London stage career to spend years in a Thai Buddhist monastery. In this episode, I sit down with him for the conversation I needed when my own brain wouldn't stop running. Sam is now a Peloton instructor and the author of The Monk's Mindset (Blackstone, May 19, 2026). His arc, from London stage to Thai monastery to a global Peloton audience, was just featured in PEOPLE Magazine. He left a roller coaster of stage, sports car, and success because the noise inside had grown louder than the noise outside. What he learned in the silence is what he teaches his Peloton students and the readers of his new book: you don't need to escape your life to find stillness. You learn to carry it. We talk about why your overthinking isn't actually a thinking problem, what your nervous system is doing at two in the morning when you can't let a conversation go, and the small named practices that interrupt the spiral. Sam walks us through a 90-second breath exercise live on the recording, the three daily anchors he uses to keep himself tethered, and the three filters his teacher gave him to run before you react to anything. In This Episode Why your overthinking isn't a thinking problem (and what it actually is) The 4-2-6 breath that interrupts a 2 a.m. spiral in 90 seconds, walked through live on the episode The three daily anchors that quiet a restless mind: intention, reset, reflection The walking practice Sam's teacher gave him when he couldn't sit still and meditate How emptying your cup changes the way you listen in every relationship you have The three filters to run before you react: is it true, is it kind, is it necessary Why a Peloton ride teaches the same thing a Thai monastery taught Sam The teacher's lesson about a cut foot that reframes every setback as redirection This episode is for anyone who has lain awake at two in the morning replaying a conversation from earlier that day, wondering why their brain won't let it go. It is for the person who has downloaded three meditation apps and quit each one because the silence felt like one more thing to be good at. Sam's tools don't ask you to retreat from your life. They ask you to find the stillness that's already in it, in five breaths before you check your phone, in the warmth of a mug between your hands, in the sound of a broom on a kitchen floor. Episode Breakdown 00:00 Why Your Mind Won't Stop, A Former Monk's Take on Overthinking 03:15 The Disconnect Behind a Life That Looks Good 15:43 Three Daily Anchors That Quiet a Restless Mind 18:22 Empty Your Cup, The Monk's Way of Listening 25:45 The Ripple Jar, Why Small Acts of Kindness Compound 32:23 Is Overthinking Just Anxiety in Disguise? 39:59 How to Calm a Racing Mind in 90 Seconds (The 4-2-6 Breath) 42:03 How to Be Present Without Hours of Meditation 49:40 Take a Different Path, Three Questions Before You React Resources Read the full article Free Self-Esteem Test, because so much of the loop starts with the story you tell about yourself Life Coaching at Growing Self, our most-requested service for people who want a real human in their corner Free consultation, talk to a coach or therapist on our team, no commitment If something in this episode landed for you, send it to the person you were thinking about while you listened. You probably already know who it is. And if you're ready for the deeper version of this work, a real person in your corner who does this with people every day, come find us at growingself.com. XO, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the podcast Upwork — When you need specialized talent fast, Upwork gives you access to vetted professionals across 125+ categories, from marketing to web development to operations support. No long recruiting cycles. No guesswork. Just the right person, when you need them. Check it out at upwork.com — posting a job is free. Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. OSEA — Amazing, clean, science-backed skincare made with the power of the sea. Use code LHS at oseamalibu.com for 10% off your first order. Quince — Quality products you’ll actually use that feel like luxury without the price tag. Get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/lhs. LNutra Prolon — A science-backed, plant-based nutrition program that supports fat loss, metabolism, cellular rejuvenation, and overall longevity. Head to ProlonLife.com/LHS for 15% off your first order + a bonus gift.