Bob Rosen on Why Change Begins Where Your Old Story Ends

What if the biggest barrier to your growth isn’t a lack of motivation—but the story you keep telling yourself? In this transformative episode, John R. Miles sits down with renowned psychologist, CEO advisor, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Bob Rosen to uncover the hidden emotional attachments that keep us stuck in survival mode.

Drawing from his groundbreaking new book, Detach: Ditch Your Baggage to Live a More Fulfilling Life, Bob reveals how clinging to perfection, control, success, and even the past quietly sabotages our ability to change. This conversation dives deep into the neuroscience of letting go, the power of self-awareness, and a practical path to break free from outdated beliefs—so you can finally live and lead with clarity, purpose, and freedom.

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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Listen Notes, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube below.

Break Free from Hidden Attachments: Dr. Bob Rosen on Rewriting Your Life Story

In this wide‑ranging conversation, John R. Miles and Dr. Bob Rosen dismantle the myth that change is all about adding more habits, hacks, or hustle. Instead, they expose the silent attachments—control, perfectionism, outdated success metrics, even nostalgia—that keep our nervous systems locked in survival mode. Rosen explains how these ingrained patterns hijack decision‑making, dull creativity, and drain energy, while Miles probes for real‑world strategies leaders and everyday listeners can apply.

Together they map out a four‑step detachment framework, show why “optimal anxiety” fuels growth, and illustrate how self‑awareness turns crisis into a catalyst. Whether you’re a CEO steering culture or an individual craving a fresh start, this episode redefines transformation as a process of subtraction: releasing what no longer serves you so that purpose, presence, and possibility can fill the space.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Silent Saboteurs: Identifying the ten emotional attachments that quietly dictate behavior and block progress.
• Optimal Anxiety: Using the “just‑right” level of stress to spark learning instead of paralysis.
• Brain Rewiring: How loosening fear circuits accelerates neuroplasticity and resilience.
• Leadership Lens: Why self‑aware CEOs outperform by creating cultures that honor authenticity over perfection.
• Future‑Self Alignment: Practical steps for shrinking the gap between who you are and who you aim to be.

WHY IS THIS EPISODE A MUST-LISTEN?

Most podcasts offer quick fixes; this episode offers a paradigm shift. You’ll walk away understanding why change feels so hard, where your resistance really lives, and how to dismantle it with science‑backed tools. If you’ve ever wondered why new goals stall, why teams cling to the status quo, or why personal reinvention seems elusive, Bob Rosen’s insights deliver the missing link—showing that the real breakthrough begins the moment you let go of your old story.

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How Letting Go of Attachments Frees You to Grow

We all carry invisible baggage. In his conversation with John R. Miles, Dr. Bob Rosen unpacks how these hidden emotional attachments—like the need for control, the chase for perfection, or even clinging to outdated beliefs—keep us locked in a cycle of fear and survival. We think they protect us, but really, they hold us back from real growth.

Bob explains that these attachments often begin as coping strategies. Over time, though, they harden into fixed beliefs that shape how we see ourselves and the world. They show up in subtle ways: a leader micromanaging because they’re afraid of failure, or someone stuck in their past, afraid to step into who they might become.

In his book Detach: Ditch Your Baggage to Live a More Fulfilling Life, Bob lays out a clear four-step process: become aware of the attachment, name the fear underneath it, imagine what freedom could look like, and then take small actions to start letting go. It’s not about becoming someone else—it’s about peeling away what’s no longer serving you so your true self can emerge.

The message is simple but powerful: You don’t grow by adding more. You grow by releasing what weighs you down.

Thanks, Bob Rosen

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RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW WITH BOB ROSEN

Please note that some of the links on this page (books, movies, music, etc.) lead to affiliate programs for which The Passion Struck podcast receives compensation. It’s just one of the ways we keep the lights on around here. Thank you so much for being so supportive!

1. Bob Rosen’s Website
2. Bob Rosen’s Instagram
3. Buy Bob Rosen’s Book ‘Detach’
4. APA’s recognition of mattering as critical to child mental health
5. Passion Struck Core Value System: https://passionstruck.com/the-passion-struck-core-belief-system/
6. Listen to Passion Struck’s interviews with New York Times bestselling authors Gretchen Rubin and Seth Godin.
7. Check out Passion Struck’s Episode Starter Packs on Spotify or Passion Struck starter packs to get started with the podcast.

About Today’s Guest, Michael Morris

Dr. Bob Rosen is a renowned organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and trusted advisor to global CEOs and executive teams. With decades of experience at the intersection of leadership and human development, he is the founder of Healthy Companies International, where he helps leaders transform themselves and their organizations from the inside out.

Dr. Rosen’s latest book, Detach: Ditch Your Baggage to Live a More Fulfilling Life, explores the hidden emotional attachments that keep us stuck in survival mode—and how to let go to thrive in a constantly changing world. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and more, and he has consulted for top companies and government agencies across five continents. Passionate about human flourishing, Bob brings a grounded, science-backed approach to personal and organizational transformation.

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