Introduction
What if the secret to surviving a health crisis isn’t “trying harder,” but learning to play the hand you’re dealt? In this session, professional poker player and clinical psychologist Dr. Donna Blevins reveals why caregivers are 70% more likely to decline physically than those they care for, and how a simple “Mind Shift” can restore your agency.
The Titan’s Journey
We often focus on the patient, but what about the “Quiet Titan” standing beside the hospital bed?
Paul sits down with Dr. Donna Blevins to discuss the “Zen of Caregiving.” Donna shares her lived experience of caring for her family for 25 years while managing her own recovery from a massive stroke.
You’ll learn how to apply “Finite Universe” logic to your medical decisions, evict the “Perfection Witch,” and use the “Butt Up” rule to protect your own health.
Timestamps
0:00 - The Invisible Burden: Restoring Agency to Carers
4:05 - The Alarming Statistic: Why Caregivers Decline First
8:30 - “Stop Hovering”: Lessons from Mama Peggy 12:15 - Poker Logic: How the “Finite Universe” Saves Lives
16:45 - The Pause: Making Decisions with Real Stakes
21:30 - Mind Shifts: Reclaiming Speech After a Stroke
27:50 - The “Butt Up” Rule for Daily Resilience
35:10 - Self-Talk: Why the Words You Use Change Your Biology
42:00 - Journaling for Transformation (Pen vs. Computer)
This is where we take the Decode → Align → Thrive philosophy and build your personal health protocol.
Resources & Links
Dr. Donna Blevins: Substack
The Book: Decode Your Diagnosis by Paul Cobbin
Free Newsletter: Join The Cipherline
