I wasn’t sure what to title this week’s newsletter…

I debated four different words for various reasons. Just so you can get into my head - here they were and their definitions.

• Disappointment – The feeling of sadness or frustration when expectations are not met.

  Example: You hoped for something good, but it didn’t happen.

• Disillusioned – The realization that something or someone isn’t as good, honest, or true as you once believed.

  Example: You once believed in your country, church, or a relationship—now you see flaws you didn’t before.

• Disenfranchised – Feeling deprived of power, rights, or a voice—especially in a system you once belonged to.

  Example: You feel like your vote doesn’t count, or like you’re excluded from decisions that affect you.

• Disenchanted – Losing your sense of wonder, admiration, or belief in something once seen as inspiring or magical.

  Example: You used to be passionate about a cause, your marriage, or a job—but now it feels hollow.

Why you ask? I’ve picked up on something lately. Almost like Pepe Le Pew on the scent of love - except it feels like the opposite of love and it smells like all four of those definitions mixed together.

In conversations with friends, I’ve smelt some sentiments of disappointment, disenchantment, feeling disillusioned, and feeling disenfranchised.

The emotions are around a few areas of life. I wanted to touch on this because I am increasingly convinced that our emotional state is the greatest lever that moves our health forward or backwards. It reminds me of the words in one of the Proverbs of Solomon - “For as a man thinks, so is he”.

The areas I see where this best applies are: Religion, Relationships and Republic

Republic

The first realm is on the republic. So many emotions on both sides of the aisle and those who sit in the aisle and those who are so disenchanted with it all that they don’t feel they belong at all.

I’ve not been immune to some emotions. I’ve got feelings about American foreign policy. I am a girl dad and find I’m a firm believer in girls be the only ones involved in girls sports.

I’ve been working on a project that was poised to take advantage of some of the green tax credits for solar - which I’m now told will expire and raise the cost of a project I’m working by 20-30,000 Benjamins. So yea I’ve got some feelings 🙂 

But anyone with friends on the right and the left can admit in the last few months - there are many feelings of disenchantment on both sides of the aisle.

Relationships

How about this delicate subject? It’s hard for me to hear stories of women in relationships—especially stay-at-home moms (superheroes)—who don’t seem to have a say in how their finances are spent, with husbands who lord over them as if raising a family were less important than making money.

Or the increasing story of a spouse who is unfaithful - this may add a new word that starts with D - disheartening.

Or how about the feeling that if people really ‘knew’ you they may not like you. That if they knew that vice, that habit, that history, those opinions, your real emotions - they couldn’t handle it. I want to say - those people who don’t know you and can’t handle the real you - aren’t your tribe - go find your tribe who loves you for you. If someone treats you differently when they know more about you, they aren’t your friend.

Religion

This topic alone could take up a full newsletter. What happens when someone becomes disillusioned or disenchanted with their religion?

It’s a hard place to be—because so often, our friend groups, marriages, and even our jobs are tied to our religious identity.

What happens when you lose your sense of wonder, admiration, or belief in something once seen as inspiring or magical?

I’ve had several friends express this recently in profound ways: their love for a faith community, a religion, a denomination—has lost its luster. What once filled them with awe and wonder and passion now brings a deep and painful disappointment and feeling disillusioned.

When religious leaders lie to cover up injustice…

When they misrepresent truth…

When they gaslight a faith community and label those who speak out—or who dare to listen to their conscience over their leaders—as rebellious or dangerous…

It can leave a person feeling powerless, hopeless, confused, and heartbroken.

And when that continues unchecked, it doesn’t just lead to disappointment—it leads to apathy.

To a frozen tundra of the soul.

Surrounded by the ice of indifference.

When you no longer care.

What is the answer?

What is one to do when they feel these feelings?

I could give you some science here but I don’t think that’s what I would want to hear if I was feeling disenchanted.

What I think helps is - community and communication.

When I’m feeling any of those emotions on any of those topics - I find what my soul needs is some resonance - does anyone else feel this way or is it just me? Am I missing something? Am I understanding this issue, topic, bill, relationship, statement, agenda item - correctly? Did he really say that? Are they incompetent or just gaslighting me?

You need at least one person in your life - where you can go and be completely honest with ZERO filters and know at the end of the conversation and your ranting - they are going to not just still love you - but love you / like you more.

When you have such hurricane force winds of emotion - you need someone you can vent to - someone you can talk to and get candid feedback and open dialogue.

Sadly often in many of our lives - we don’t have that person - usually because we are afraid to be honest, for fear they won’t like us, will shun us, will disfellowship us or worse persecute us and penalize us - all for being open and honest.

I’m practicing that when I get in these moments - I count my blessings, I ask what really matters to me, and I reach out to the people I feel know me and like me - to share life together.

Isolation and indifference are the enemy when you feel disenchanted. Community and conversation are the remedy.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts. 👋

I write this newsletter each week because I feel my best when my body, mind and soul are all healthy. I want the same for you. If you feel like you’ve seen something valuable here, please do me a favor and forward this newsletter to a friend or let me know what you think by replying or texting me - (310) 879-8441

I think happy couples make the world go round. I also believe men can do more to lead and love in their lives. In light of that, I have found the following four books to be the 4 books every man should read and every woman should want their man to read.

• Good Energy - What makes for a Healthy Body and Mind?

• The Masculine in Relationship - How to Win the Trust, Lust and Devotion of a Strong Woman

• The Man’s Guide to Women - The Science of Happy Relationships

• The Desire of Ages - Leadership in a World of Cowards

Here are a few other links to things that have changed my life:

Whoop - Track your HRV and REM Sleep

Function Health - Optimize Your Health via 100+ BioMarkers

Here are a few topics I think you’ll love if you haven’t checked them out before:

How to Breathe for Better Health

How to Supercharge Your Sleep

The Power of the Sauna

-Jared

P.S. - This newsletter does not provide medical advice. The content, such as graphics, images, text, and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only. The content is not meant to be complete or exhaustive or to be applicable to any specific individual's medical condition.