Are you feeling stuck in life — drifting, lost, and disconnected from who you truly are? In this episode, I share my personal story of how changing my physical environment — and eventually moving abroad — became the catalyst for profound internal change.

We explore how emotional attachment to people and places can silently shape your identity, limit your potential, and keep you locked in outdated versions of yourself. I dive into the difference between reinvention and reconnection, why some environments make growth nearly impossible, and what it means to truly start from a clean slate.

If you've ever felt trapped by your city, your relationships, or your past — this conversation is for you.

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

1-on-1 Coaching: https://markusjunnikkala.com/consultation/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) - Feeling Stuck in Life

(01:45) - Growing Up Trapped

(03:31) - The Cage Is in Your Mind

(05:11) - Place Holds Power

(07:05) - You’re Not Who They Think You Are

(08:40) - The Smirks That Stop You

(10:45) - Nowhere Left to Grow

(13:04) - Getting Into Music School Abroad

(16:42) - Friends on Purpose

(19:00) - No Past, Just You

(20:14) - Why Moving Cities Isn’t Enough

(21:01) - Make an Exit Plan

(22:42) - Regret Hurts More

(23:49) - Pick Your Place With Purpose

(25:36) - New Place, Same You?

(29:38) - Final Invitation

(31:50) - When Locations Hold Feeling

(32:45) - Call to Action

In this episode, we explore some of the mental causes behind creative burnout. We dive deep into the psychology of stress, the danger of unspoken expectations, and how your internal “mental software” might be running faulty code that leads to frustration, exhaustion, and creative stagnation. If you’re a creative person constantly feeling depleted, stuck, or under pressure to “do more,” this episode is for you.

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

1-on-1 Coaching: https://markusjunnikkala.com/consultation/

Become a member: https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/

Want me to answer your question? Ask it on social media:

https://youtube.com/@markusjunnikkala

https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/

https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/

https://twitter.com/markusjunnikkal

https://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkala

https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/

Rating, subscribing, and sharing helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) Intro: Facing Burnout

(00:01:54) The Body Can't Differentiate Stress

(00:04:49) How Expectations Fuel Burnout

(00:06:46) Unspoken Expectations Destroy Relationships

(00:13:01) Meet People Where They Are

(00:17:53) The Hidden Burnout of Pleasing Everyone

(00:23:37) Reprogram Your Mental Software

(00:30:49) Break Patterns to Break Through

(00:33:06) Why Creatives Need Small Wins

(00:41:03) Burnout and the Battle With Time

(00:47:14) You Can Only Do Your Best

In this episode we explore the effects of deleting your social media apps from your phone.

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/

Want me to answer your question?

Ask it below in the comments or on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/

https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/

https://twitter.com/markusjunnikkal

https://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkala

https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/

Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) – The Decision to Delete the Apps

(00:01:44) – The Power of Getting Fed Up

(00:02:44) – Scrolling in the Bathroom

(00:03:34) – Breaks That Don’t Recharge

(00:04:56) – Information Overload Isn’t Learning

(00:06:30) – Willpower is Limited, Use It Wisely

(00:07:48) – You’re Fighting Tech Giants

(00:08:23) – A Moment in Nature and Self-Reflection

(00:09:25) – Saving Willpower for What Matters

(00:11:42) – Protein Bars and Mindful Choices

(00:13:28) – Addicted, Quit, Repeat

(00:14:44) – Can Social Media Be Fixed?

(00:16:14) – Strategic Consumption

(00:17:48) – Failed Experiments in Self-Limiting

(00:30:04) – Someday, You’ll Wish for That Time

(00:32:13) – The Poison is in the Dose

(00:33:02) – Delete the Apps, Keep the Account

(00:33:50) – Final Thoughts and How to Connect