Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence

Johnny Lawrence
  • 4.5 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence is a podcast about understanding yourself. Each week, Johnny explores the psychology, emotions and hidden patterns behind why we think, feel and behave the way we do, answering a listener's question on topics like people-pleasing, overthinking, anger, confidence, relationships and purpose. Once a month, he's joined by a special guest for deeper conversations and fresh perspectives. Because lasting change begins by understanding why you do what you do. New episodes every Wednesday.

  1. 1d ago

    167. Why Do I Keep Getting in My Own Way? | Understanding Self-Sabotage

    In this episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I explore one of the most misunderstood patterns in human behaviour: self-sabotage. What if you're not actually trying to sabotage yourself? What if the behaviour you're calling self-sabotage is actually an attempt to self-soothe, pulling you back to something familiar and comfortable when fear or uncertainty feels uncomfortable? I explore how behavioural loops, identity, familiarity, and fear can keep us repeating patterns we know aren't helping us, and why success can sometimes feel more threatening than failure. Most importantly, I look at how curiosity and self-awareness can help us interrupt those patterns and develop healthier responses to discomfort. Takeaways 👉 Self-sabotage may actually be self-soothing. We often return to familiar behaviours because they help us regulate discomfort, even when they don't serve us. 👉 Familiar doesn't always mean healthy. We can become more comfortable with what we know than with what we actually want. 👉 Fear can sit underneath self-sabotaging behaviour. Change, success and uncertainty can all trigger protective responses. 👉 Your behaviour can become a loop. Triggers create familiar responses, which create familiar outcomes, until you notice the pattern. 👉 Curiosity creates choice. Instead of asking, “Why am I doing this to myself?”, ask, “What is this behaviour trying to do for me?” JOIN THE BOOK WAITLIST https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/book  Website www.johnnylawrence.co.uk Johnny’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/johnnylawrenceuk/?hl=en  Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whydoidothisofficial/?hl=en  The Slavey of Addiction Documentary https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin

  2. Sep 16

    166. Why Do I Keep Calling Myself Lazy? | Understanding Burnout & Avoidance

    In this episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I explore one of the questions many of us secretly ask ourselves: “Am I actually lazy, or is something else going on?” I look at the difference between burnout, exhaustion, avoidance and genuine unwillingness, and why calling ourselves “lazy” often stops us from understanding what’s really getting in the way. We explore how fear, overwhelm, depleted energy and lack of clarity can all look like procrastination. I also share two practical tools, the Energy Avoidance Check and the Ten-Minute Rule, to help you understand your resistance, take action, and respond to yourself with more honesty and compassion. Takeaways 👉 Burnout is depletion, not laziness. When your capacity is genuinely depleted, pushing harder isn't always the answer. 👉 “What’s getting in the way?” is a better question than “Why am I so lazy?” Understanding the cause gives you something you can actually work with. 👉 Avoidance can be driven by fear. Sometimes we aren't unwilling to act; we're afraid of what acting might mean. 👉 Small actions create momentum. You don't always need motivation before you begin; sometimes motivation follows action. 👉 Learn the difference between inability and unwillingness. Honest self-awareness helps you know when you need rest and when you need to take responsibility. SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter  Website www.johnnylawrence.co.uk Johnny’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/johnnylawrenceuk/?hl=en  Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whydoidothisofficial/?hl=en  The Slavey of Addiction Documentary https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin

  3. Sep 9

    165. Why Do I Get So Disappointed by People? | Understanding Expectations

    Why do we get so disappointed when people don't behave the way we expected? In this episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I explore how expectations shape our relationships, emotions and experiences, and why we often treat our predictions about other people as if they were promises. We look at the difference between preferences, expectations and boundaries, why unmet expectations can reveal deeper needs, and how communicating those needs can prevent unnecessary disappointment. I also share a practical framework for examining your expectations and learning to respond to reality rather than constantly fighting it. Because disappointment isn't always a problem to fix. Sometimes it's information about what you need. Takeaways 👉 Expectations are predictions, not promises. 👉 Disappointment can reveal an unmet need. 👉 Communicate your needs instead of expecting others to guess. 👉 Preferences, expectations and boundaries are different. 👉 Emotional flexibility means learning to accept reality. SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter  Website www.johnnylawrence.co.uk Johnny’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/johnnylawrenceuk/?hl=en  Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whydoidothisofficial/?hl=en  The Slavey of Addiction Documentary https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin

  4. Sep 2

    164. Why Do I Struggle to Become the Man I Want to Be? | Lawrence Price on Strength, Discipline & Identity

    What actually makes a man strong? In this episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I sit down with coach, entrepreneur and father Lawrence Price to explore discipline, identity, resilience, fatherhood and what it really means to become a strong man. We go beyond the gym and business to discuss why people struggle to change, how our identity can keep us trapped in old patterns, and why achievement doesn't always lead to fulfilment. Lawrence also shares what fatherhood has taught him about leadership, responsibility and the example we set through our actions, not just our words. This is a conversation about becoming stronger from the inside out. Takeaways 👉 Strength isn't the absence of struggle. 👉 Your identity can either drive or limit your growth. 👉 Discipline is built through consistent action. 👉 Achievement doesn't automatically create fulfilment. 👉 The person you become matters more than what you achieve. Lawrence’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lawrenceprice_/?hl=en  Lawrence’s Website https://www.lawrenceprice.co.uk/  SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter  Website www.johnnylawrence.co.uk Johnny’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/johnnylawrenceuk/?hl=en  Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whydoidothisofficial/?hl=en  The Slavey of Addiction Documentary https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin

  5. Aug 27

    163. Why Do I Talk to Myself So Negatively? | Understanding Your Inner Critic

    Why are we often kinder to everyone else than we are to ourselves? In this episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I explore the relationship we have with ourselves, from the voice of our inner critic to the stories we carry about who we are. I unpack why our inner critic may actually be trying to protect us, the difference between accountability and self-punishment, and how childhood experiences can shape the way we speak to ourselves. I also share practical ways to recognise negative self-talk, challenge the stories you tell yourself, and develop greater self-compassion without letting yourself off the hook. Because you don't need to love everything about yourself to start treating yourself with kindness. Takeaways 👉 Your inner critic may be trying to protect you. 👉 Accountability doesn't require self-punishment. 👉 Your language shapes how you see yourself. 👉 Mistakes are opportunities to learn, not proof of failure. 👉 Self-compassion can create real, lasting growth. JOIN THE BOOK WAITLIST https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/book  SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter  Website www.johnnylawrence.co.uk Johnny’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/johnnylawrenceuk/?hl=en  Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whydoidothisofficial/?hl=en  The Slavey of Addiction Documentary https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin

  6. Aug 19

    162. Why Do I Feel Like a Failure After Losing My Job? | Rebuilding Confidence

    What happens to your confidence when the thing you thought defined you suddenly disappears? In this episode, I explore how redundancy, rejection and career setbacks can affect our confidence and sense of identity. I share practical ways to rebuild self-trust, process difficult emotions, and separate what has happened to you from who you are. Because losing a job doesn't mean you've lost your value. Confidence isn't something you simply think your way into; it’s something you rebuild through small actions, promises kept, and evidence that you can trust yourself again. Takeaways 👉 Confidence is built through action. 👉 Your job doesn't define your worth. 👉 Rejection doesn't determine your value. 👉 Accepting emotions helps you move forward. 👉 Small promises build self-trust. SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter  Website www.johnnylawrence.co.uk Johnny’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/johnnylawrenceuk/?hl=en  Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whydoidothisofficial/?hl=en  The Slavey of Addiction Documentary https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin

  7. Aug 12

    161. Why Do I Overthink Everything I Say? | Overthinking Conversations

    Why do I replay conversations in my head and wonder if I said the wrong thing? In this episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I explore why our brains overanalyse conversations, how our need to belong can make us obsess over what other people think, and why we often confuse the facts of what happened with the stories we create afterwards. I also share practical ways to break the cycle of rumination, challenge anxious thoughts, and develop more self-compassion when your brain won't switch off. Because sometimes the conversation isn't the problem. The story you're telling yourself about it is. Takeaways 👉 Your brain overthinks to protect your sense of belonging. 👉 Most overthinking comes from stories, not facts. 👉 The spotlight effect makes us overestimate how much others notice us. 👉 Perfectionism can fuel overthinking and self-doubt. 👉 Self-compassion and limiting rumination can help break the cycle. SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter  Website www.johnnylawrence.co.uk Johnny’s Instagram @johnnylawrenceuk Podcast Instagram @whydoidothisofficial The Slavey of Addiction Documentary https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin

  8. Aug 5

    160. Why Did We Climb Kilimanjaro? With Aitch and Team 21 From Netflix Aitch: Don't Be Afraid

    With Aitch: Don't Be Afraid now streaming on Netflix, I wanted to reshare one of the most meaningful conversations I've ever recorded. In this special episode of Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence, I sit down with my Kilimanjaro teammates, Team 21, to reflect on the emotional, physical, and life-changing journey that became part of the Netflix documentary. We talk about why we took on the challenge, the friendships forged through adversity, the lessons we learned on the mountain, and how climbing Kilimanjaro in support of the Down Syndrome Association changed each of us forever. If you've watched the documentary, or you're about to, this is the story behind the climb. 👉 Growth begins where your comfort zone ends. 👉 Shared challenges create lifelong friendships. 👉 Purpose makes even the hardest journeys worthwhile. 👉 Resilience is built one step at a time. 👉 Sometimes the biggest transformation happens long before you reach the summit. SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER HERE https://www.johnnylawrence.co.uk/newsletter  Website www.johnnylawrence.co.uk Johnny’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/johnnylawrenceuk?igsh=MWkzNnR5ZHZod3lsZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whydoidothisofficial?igsh=MTd5ZG5mcGhsMXFtZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr The Slavey of Addiction Documentary https://youtu.be/8j3Nq_lcFlY?si=6I0kXppX9prFFoin

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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Why Do I Do This? with Johnny Lawrence is a podcast about understanding yourself. Each week, Johnny explores the psychology, emotions and hidden patterns behind why we think, feel and behave the way we do, answering a listener's question on topics like people-pleasing, overthinking, anger, confidence, relationships and purpose. Once a month, he's joined by a special guest for deeper conversations and fresh perspectives. Because lasting change begins by understanding why you do what you do. New episodes every Wednesday.

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