81: Emotional Fitness in Practice: How to Find Yourself Again with Shaun Zetlin

Ellen continues her conversation with Shaun Zetlin, founder of Zetlin Fitness and author of Emotional Fitness. In Part 1, Ellen and Shaun focused on the philosophy and psychology of emotional fitness. In Part 2, they move into the practical side: choosing the right support, using Shaun’s five mantras, and understanding how emotional fitness shows up inside a relationship. Part 1: Choosing the Right Support Ellen shares her own experience with personal training and what she learned from working with trainers who were both helpful and imperfect. Shaun explains why a good trainer needs more than knowledge of anatomy or motivation. The right trainer listens, adapts, understands the whole person, and helps clients keep going for the long run. Part 2: Shaun’s Five Mantras for Emotional Fitness Shaun walks through the five master mantras from his book Emotional Fitness: accepting your path, knowing you are worthy, knowing you are empowered, lowering the volume, and being your biggest fan. Ellen and Shaun discuss how old pain, shame, fear, and inherited beliefs can shape the way people think, feel, move, and connect. Part 3: 80 Boxes and Finding Your Way Back Shaun shares the story of “80 boxes,” a phrase he and his wife Adrienne use to remind each other that they can get through hard moments together. Ellen connects this to the private language long-term couples build over time, and how inside jokes, memories, rituals, and shared physical experiences can help partners reconnect. Key Takeaways: Cultivate allies who value you as a whole person. Whether it’s a trainer, therapist, coach, or any other expert, don’t just settle. Take the time to talk to a few people and find the one who really gets you. These are people who will be pushing you, challenging you, and helping you see things you may not see on your own, so you need to be able to trust them. Shaun’s five mantras give you a clear starting point for letting go of old patterns. A lot of us carry perceptions from our past about who we are and what we deserve. Old anger, fear, or shame can anchor you and steal your vitality if you don’t deal with them. There may be more value than you realize in revisiting what you and your partner have shared over the years. Inside jokes, memories, and little rituals can help you find your way back to each other. Those past connections can sometimes cut through the resentments that led to the disconnect and bring the good times back into the present. Call to Action: If this conversation made you think about your own vitality, emotional patterns, or relationship, Ellen invites you to book a free Relationship Reset Call. It is a private working call designed to help you get a clearer read on what is draining you, where you are disconnected, and what kind of support could help. Book your call at: relationshipresetcall.com Closing Thoughts: Ellen shares resources from the conversation, including Shaun’s book Emotional Fitness, Shaun’s coordinates for anyone interested in working with him directly, and Boston Personal Training for listeners in the Boston MetroWest area who are looking for in-person training with someone who checks all the boxes. Support & Resources: Ellen invites listeners to share their thoughts, either in the P3 Insider's Community or directly with her via email. Or, for one on one brainstorming on a specific situation, listeners can set up a time on Ellen's Calendar for a free Relationship Reset Call. For immediate insights, take the Relationship Dynamics Scorecard: A fast free quiz to pinpoint relationship strengths and stressors, and identify priorities that need your attention. Find it at: MakeMoreLove.show/quiz All links can be found below. Guest Resources: Shaun’s book, Emotional Fitness, expands on several of the ideas we discuss in this episode. Get the book here: https://amzn.to/4tu7JXR As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To reach Shaun directly: Phone: 302-740-2422 Email: info@zetlinfitness.com