Matthew Hussey is back on the show, and this conversation picks up right where our last one left off, except he's grown a lot since then. Matthew built his early career on a simple idea: create more opportunity and you'll make better romantic choices. Over time he realized abundance alone doesn't fix anything. The real work lives underneath, in the unconscious patterns and emotional reflexes that decide who we choose and how we behave once we have them. That discovery pushed his focus toward emotional regulation, and it's the thread running through everything we talk about today. What We Dive Into: 1. Matthew built his early career on the idea that more romantic opportunity leads to better choices. He later realized abundance does not override the unconscious patterns formed by our earliest relationships. Real change comes from understanding those patterns, not expanding the pool of options. 2. When someone does not text back for hours and a whole day unravels, the reaction is rarely about the message itself. Matthew describes triggers as reflexive states shaped by earlier wounds, not conscious choices. Curiosity and self-compassion, not shame, create room to respond differently. 3. Matthew traces his readiness for commitment to a relationship built on certainty and standards at once: his wife made clear she was giving it an honest try and expected the same. That let him stop fearing the future and start showing up fully, since the decision no longer sat on him alone. Know Thyself, but not by yourself. A guided space to return home to yourself. https://www.knowthyselfcollective.com ✨THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: https://www.mudwtr.com/knowthyself Use code KNOWTHYSELF for up to 43% off sitewide Waking Up: Get your 14 day free trial! https://www.wakingup.com/knowthyself ___________ 00:00 Intro 02:26 Why the Focus Shifted to Relationships 10:43 How Perspective Shifts With Experience 12:58 Relationship as a Path to Growth 18:28 The Fear Beneath Commitment 35:41 Commitment as Freedom, Not Loss 49:32 Spreading Your Needs Across a Tribe 53:07 What's Actually Essential in a Partner 1:01:54 Choosing a True Teammate 1:08:28 Being Whole Before You Partner Up 1:20:54 The Gift of Real Presence 1:27:24 What Men and Women Actually Need 1:35:50 Beyond Masculine and Feminine Labels 1:37:58 The Illusions and Joys of Parenthood 1:42:54 Letting Go of the Achievement Identity 1:51:44 Working With Emotional Triggers 2:11:25 The Dance of Acceptance and Growth 2:13:35 Life as an Earth School 2:21:40 Learning From Different Wiring 2:24:03 The Power of Shared Vulnerability 2:31:37 Closing Reflections 2:33:53 Outro ___________ ✨MORE FROM MATTHEW HUSSEY ↳FREE 3-Day Event: https://www.3DayCalm.com ↳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thematthewhussey/ ↳https://matthewhussey.com 📜MORE FROM KNOW THYSELF ↳Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bZMq9l ↳Apple: https://apple.co/4iATICX ↳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ ↳TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andreduqum ↳Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowthyselfbyandreduqum/ ↳https://knowthyselfpodcast.com/ 👁️MORE FROM ANDRÉ ↳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@andreduqum ↳Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/know-thyself-podcast ↳Book recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list