Have you ever felt like you're standing in your own way? Like there's this invisible force keeping you stuck, anxious, or afraid, and no matter what you try, you can't seem to break free?
This week's conversation might just shift everything.
We sat down with Amy Koford, also known as The Happy Hypnotist, a clinical hypnotist, bestselling author, and motivational speaker who helps people rewire their minds to overcome anxiety, heal from trauma, conquer fears, and finally believe they're worthy of the life they want.
Amy doesn't sugarcoat it. She digs into the real stuff, the insecurities we carry, the comparisons that drain us, the fear that shows up in every corner of our lives. And she offers something rare: hope backed by real tools that work.
This episode is for anyone who's ever felt not good enough, stuck in a loop of self-criticism, or trapped by fear they didn't choose. Let's talk about it.
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π₯ Special Shout-Out to Women Supporting Women
π Meet Krista Dykes
She Laughs Media is a boutique podcast booking and publicity agency dedicated to amplifying the voices of mission-driven entrepreneurs, artists, authors, and experts. With media contacts spanning top-tier national outlets and local press, we specialize in creating strategic, faith-rooted storytelling campaigns that connect clients with their ideal audiences. Founded on Proverbs 31:25, "She laughs at the time to come," we combine integrity, creativity, white glove service, and world-class media savvy to help clients build lasting visibility and meaningful impact. Learn more at shelaughsmedia.com.
This week's worksheet invites you to explore the fears that might be running the show in your life, the comparisons that steal your peace, and the small, powerful steps you can take toward believing you're worthy, just as you are.
Download it, print it, or just sit with the questions. There's no wrong way to reflect.
ποΈ Episode Spotlight
Amy Koford is not your typical hypnotherapist. She's bold, real, and unafraid to tell you the truth, you are more powerful than you think, and fear is the only thing standing in your way.
In this conversation, Amy walks us through how hypnotherapy works, why it's so effective for anxiety, trauma, and even things like quitting smoking in one session, and how our minds have been wired to believe stories about ourselves that simply aren't true.
She shares her own journey with insecurity, how she spent years believing she wasn't good enough, and how she finally learned to stop comparing herself to others. Amy explains that comparison, especially comparing up, is one of the fastest ways to create suffering in your life. And she's right.
But this episode isn't just about what's broken. It's about what's possible. Amy talks about the moment she realized she needed to write her book, Hardwired to Rise: Live Fearlessly, Prosperously and Optimally, after recognizing that fear is the root of nearly every problem in the world, from personal insecurities to global conflicts.
She reminds us that we're all on our own journey, that we all have strengths and weaknesses, and that life is hard enough without adding the weight of self-criticism and fear. Her message is clear: stop tearing yourself down. You are a miracle. Act like it.
This conversation is for anyone who's tired of feeling stuck, anyone who's ready to stop letting fear write the script, and anyone who wants to believe, maybe for the first time, that they're worthy of peace, joy, and a life that feels like their own.
At the heart of this conversation is a truth many of us have never been given permission to believe: you are more than what you think you are.
Amy reminds us that fear is not just a personal struggle, it's the underlying force behind insecurity, anxiety, self-doubt, and even the biggest conflicts in the world. When we understand fear for what it is, unnecessary noise keeping us small, we can begin to rewrite the stories we've believed about ourselves.
This episode reframes what healing looks like. Healing is not about fixing yourself or becoming someone else. It's about unlearning the lies fear has been whispering, about realizing you were never broken in the first place.
Amy also names something many people carry in silence: the belief that they are unworthy or undeserving. She challenges that belief head-on, not with empty positivity, but with real tools and honest reflection. She talks about how comparison, especially comparing yourself to people who seem to have it all together, only creates suffering.
This conversation makes space for both truths: the reality that life is hard, and the possibility that you can still rise.
π« A quote that stuck with us
"Never compare up. It only will cause you suffering." β Amy Koford
ποΈ Real Talk from Us
"When Amy said, 'You're more than what you think you are,' I felt that in my whole body. I've spent so much of my life believing I wasn't enough, and hearing someone say out loud that I'm actually more than I think? That hit different." β G-Rex
"The part about fear being the root of almost everything, that landed for me. I've seen it in my own life, how fear shows up as anxiety, avoidance, self-criticism. And realizing that it's just fear, not truth, that changes things." β Dirty Skittles
π Reflection Prompts to Sit With
Where in your life is fear calling the shots without your permission?
Who are you comparing yourself to, and what would happen if you stopped?
What would you believe about yourself if fear wasn't in the room?
What does "you're more than what you think you are" mean to you right now?
π± Gentle Reminder
You are not unworthy. You are not undeserving. And you are not broken. Fear has been lying to you, and it's time to stop believing it. You are more powerful, more capable, and more miraculous than you've been letting yourself believe.
π Meet Our Guest: Amy Koford
Amy Koford, also known as The Happy Hypnotist, is a motivational speaker, bestselling author, clinical hypnotist, and performer dedicated to helping people overcome anxiety, heal from trauma, conquer fears, and unlock their fullest potential.
Her work empowers individuals to stop smoking in one session, sleep well, love themselves, and thrive in every area of life. Amy has been featured on a billboard in Times Square, Good Things Utah, Biz TV, and several professional podcasts and publications.
Her book, Hardwired to Rise: Live Fearlessly, Prosperously and Optimally, offers practical tools for eliminating unnecessary fear and reclaiming your power. Amy is committed to creating a world where love wins over fear, one person at a time.
Fear is the root cause of most personal and global problems. When we understand fear for what it is, unnecessary and often untrue, we can begin to heal and move forward.
You are more than what you think you are. Insecurity and self-doubt are learned. You can unlearn them and reconnect with your inherent worth and power.
Comparing yourself to others, especially comparing up, only causes suffering. Everyone is on their own journey. Focus on your own path, not someone else's highlight reel.
Hypnotherapy works because it helps reprogram the subconscious mind. When you're ready and open to change, hypnotherapy can help you overcome anxiety, trauma, and even deeply ingrained habits like smoking.
Self-criticism is not serving you. Every time you criticize yourself, you reinforce the belief that you're not enough. Choose a different story. You are a miracle.
Healing requires readiness and belief. The most powerful tool in any healing process is your willingness to believe it can work for you.
π οΈ Actionable Steps You Can Take Right Now
Notice when you're comparing yourself to others. Catch yourself in the act and ask, "Is this helping me or hurting me?" Then choose to redirect your focus back to your own journey.
Challenge one fear-based belief this week. Pick one thing you've been telling yourself (like "I'm not good enough" or "I can't do this") and ask, "Is this actually true, or is this just fear talking?"
Stop criticizing yourself for one day. Every time you catch yourself saying something negative about yourself, replace it with "That's not doing me any good. I am better than that."
Explore hypnotherapy if you're stuck. If traditional methods haven't worked for your anxiety, trauma, or habits, research hypnotherapists in your area or reach out to Amy directly.
Read Amy's book, Hardwired to Rise. If you're ready to understand fear on a deeper level and learn practical tools to eliminate it, this book is a great place to start.
Remind yourself daily: "I am more than what I think I am." Write it down. Say it out loud. Let it sink in. You are more powerful than you've been letting yourself believe.
π¬ We Want to Hear From You
What part of this conversation hit home for you? Are you ready to stop letting fear run the show? Have you tried hypnotherapy, or are you curious about it?
Reply to this email or tag us on Instagram @grex_and_dirtyskittles and let us know. Your story matters, and we're here to listen.
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If this episode resonated with you, we'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more people who need to hear these conversations, and it means everything to us.
This week's conversation with Amy hit us right in the heart, and we hope it did the same for you.
If you've been carrying the weight of not feeling good enough, if you've been comparing yourself to people who seem to have it all figured out, if fear has been whispering lies about who you are and what you're capable of, we want you to hear this: you are not broken. You never were.
Fear is loud. It's persistent. It shows up uninvited and pretends to be the truth. But it's not. It's just noise keeping you small, keeping you stuck, keeping you from believing what's always been true about you.
You are more than the anxiety you carry. You are more than the insecurities you've learned. You are more than every cruel thing you've ever said to yourself. And you are so much more powerful than fear wants you to believe.
Amy's message landed with us because it's what we all need to hear: you are a miracle. Not someday. Not when you fix yourself or become someone else. Right now. Exactly as you are.
So this week, be a little kinder to yourself. Notice when fear is talking and choose not to believe it. Stop comparing yourself to people whose journeys have nothing to do with yours. And remind yourself, as many times as you need to, that you are more than what you think you are.
You deserve peace. You deserve healing. And you deserve a life that feels like your own.
Take care of your mental health. Drink some water. Rest if you need to. And go find your joy, even if it's something small today.
We're so glad you're here.
With love and solidarity,
G-Rex & Dirty Skittlesβ βChanging the way we talk about mental health, one real convo at a time.
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G-Rex & Dirty Skittles
It's ok to be not ok, just make sure you're talking to someone
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