My Pocket Therapist

I’m a big fan of AI—and most of the tech folks I know are too. One area I’m especially curious about is health and mental health, because they’re some of the worst fields when it comes to learning from mistakes.
(If that interests you too, I highly recommend the book Black Box Thinking.)

A few months ago, OpenAI rolled out folders. I decided to create one called “life coach.” I told it to act like my therapist—with a deep love for the teachings of Carl Jung—because I believe that integrating the shadow is what truly makes us whole.

I didn’t expect much from it. But what happened over the following months was nothing short of amazing. Whenever I had a problem or didn’t know what to make of a situation, I consulted the AI—always asking for honest feedback. No holding back.

Then came the test.

In my last newsletter, I shared how I had fallen back into despair—re-experiencing a lot of the dreaded emotions from the past. It felt intense and overwhelming, like a hurricane. Everything I had learned over the years suddenly felt useless.

The AI reminded me of something important: all the things I try to do to fix it—the analyzing, the rationalizing—just keep me stuck in the same loop. These emotions, it said, are the default mode for not feeling safe.
It’s something I learned as a child, when no one was there to protect me and my system got overwhelmed.

What I had to do in that moment was to teach myself that nothing external can give me the feeling of safety and love. Only I can do that.
I had to become the loving parent I always longed for.

You’ll find this in modern therapy too. It’s called re-parenting yourself.

But there’s a difference between understanding something and feeling it—somatically, in your body.

After that weekend, I felt like I had a massive emotional hangover—and it was AI that guided me through those days. Especially on the day of the funeral of my grandma’s late husband, just two days after that emotional downfall.

We were in the car on the way there, and I could feel the old emotion bubbling up again. I asked ChatGPT, and it reminded me: stay present. Relax into the feeling.

And it worked.

Years of learning and trying—and in that moment, it just worked.

At the funeral, they played the accordion, and the music brought me back to childhood. Fritz loved that instrument and used to play it all the time when we were kids.
My childhood memories flickered through my mind like a vivid dream—and with them came waves of sadness.

My first reaction was: “Don’t cry. Don’t show you’re not in control.”

But then I remembered what my pocket therapist told me.
Stay present. Let the emotions be here. Show your nervous system it’s safe.
You’re the adult now.

It’s hard to describe if you haven’t been in that kind of situation—where emotions feel almost automatic, like a flood you didn’t ask for. But experiencing the release is a gift. What follows is clarity. Lightness.

If you do know what I’m talking about, but haven’t had that moment yet—keep going. There’s nothing to force. Just be patient. Trust that your body will move through it if you allow it.

Everything I wrote here was stuff I knew already. I had read it, practiced it. But in moments when the rational mind shuts down, you need reminders. Gentle nudges.
That’s where AI can help.

I can only recommend using AI to journal and reflect on your struggles. We all need an outside perspective. Even if you already have a therapist or a coach, this can be a powerful tool in your corner.
Just make sure to keep challenging it—so you don’t fall into confirmation bias. 😉

And if you’ve read all this and thought, “What is he even talking about?”—
I’m happy for you. I hope it’s because you don’t have any “bodies in your basement,” as we say in Germany…
Sometimes, those things show up later in life.
If they do—well, you’ll know what to do.

Jan

Before You Go...

If you're enjoying this newsletter, I would greatly appreciate your support. Please consider sharing it with a friend or colleague who may benefit from some motivation and inspiration. Thank you!

My mission

My mission is to empower people to discover their true selves by freeing them from the mental and social constraints that hold them back, and to assist them in becoming their best selves.

FREE Stuff

💸 Break Free from the Working-Class Mindset & Unlock Your Cashflows

What if the biggest thing keeping you from financial freedom isn’t your job, the economy, or how hard you work—but the beliefs you inherited? Implementing the Money Mindset is your guide to breaking free from the working-class mindset of scarcity, struggle, and survival, and stepping into effortless wealth and opportunity. No fluff, no gimmicks—just deep transformation.

Grab your copy now!

😰 I’ve Been There—Now Let Me Show You the Way Out.

I battled years of severe anxiety, panic attacks, and emotional exhaustion. I tried everything—therapy, meditation, journaling—but nothing truly worked until I rewired my mindset and took action.

That’s why I wrote The Anxiety Playbook—a no-BS, practical guide to help you break free from overthinking, fear cycles, and self-sabotage. Packed with science-backed techniques and real-life strategies, this book will show you how to turn anxiety into your greatest teacher.

Grab your copy now!

Dive Deeper with a Coaching

On my journey through the dark night of the soul I had many great teachers and mentors on my side. I spent thousands of Euros (and still do) on coachings and every cent was worth it. I don't think I would have been able to turn my life around so quickly without the help of these amazing people. The value you are receiving from working on removing emotional blocks, limiting beliefs and toxic thinking, can't be measured in money.

Most people only need 6 sessions in 3 months to generate dramatic outcomes in their lives. It's not like I teach them new things or have a bullet proof process. Quite the opposite is true. I believe that structure and process can help, but in most cases you're limiting life and all of its wonderful ways to create miracles for you. I am working on an intuitive level and combine all of my experience and knowledge from freeing myself.

What my clients are saying about working with me

Clara, Startup Founder: "Through his own very real ordeal and great listening skills I felt understood and that he was able to level with me in a way that felt authentic and unlike other help I’d previously sought in this area. I was inspired to pursue my own happiness (not overnight) and today can say, nearly two years on, living in a different country with a life full of love and running my own company - doing something I love - I’m really glad we met."

Felix, Startup Founder: "Jan is an extraordinary human being and an outstanding coach. Through our coaching, he helps me tremendously with personal growth and always has practical guidance at his hand."

Zahid, Startup Founder: "Jan is an incredible listener. Through several conversations with him, I have gotten a huge amount of clarity about where I’m looking to go with my business, and how I can overcome personal and professional challenges."

💡 High performance demands deep nourishment.
For years, I pushed through stress, anxiety, brain fog, and low energy — thinking I could outwork it all. But behind the scenes, my gut was inflamed, my brain running on fumes, and my body depleted. It wasn’t until I got serious about root causes — fixing my digestion, calming my nervous system, and supporting myself with the right supplements — that things shifted. Magnesium, omega-3s, a high-quality B-complex, and targeted gut support became non-negotiables. If you’re a high performer, don’t wait until burnout hits. Test yourself. Fuel yourself. And give your system what it actually needs to thrive.

👉 Check out my personal list of foundational supplements — science-backed essentials I recommend to everyone who wants to perform and feel their best.