You Were Never the Storm: Detaching from Thoughts, Drama & the Need to Control

In this episode of YASKING with Anthony and Arturo, we dive deep into four soul-punching quotes from The Untethered Soul—each a doorway into greater freedom, awareness, and self-compassion. Together, we unpack the mental noise that keeps us stuck, the fear-based stories we tell ourselves, and the daily practice of remembering we are not our thoughts, emotions, or even our bodies—we are the awareness behind it all.

From financial anxiety to fitness expectations, from relationship fears to the healing power of tears, we reflect on how to gently observe, not over-identify. Whether you're navigating a challenging season or simply want to feel more present and alive, this episode invites you to trust life, loosen your grip, and dance with the mystery.

This is your reminder: you were never the storm. You’ve always been the sky.

Tune in to "YASKing with Anthony and Arturo" on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don't forget to subscribe and follow Anthony on TikTok at @coachcatalino and Arturo on IG at @arturodiaz and TikTok @arturodiaznyc

Transcript

Arturo Diaz: Welcome to YASKING with Anthony and Arturo. I'm Arturo Diaz.

Anthony Catalino: And I'm Anthony Catalino.

Arturo Diaz: We are back with four more soul-punching quotes from The Untethered Soul, each one a reminder that the mind can be loud, the ego can be dramatic, and yet you are something far quieter, steadier, and freer underneath it all. It's time to ask the big questions. What if you are not your thoughts, your fears, or your chaos, but the awareness quietly watching it all unfold?

Anthony Catalino: Wohoo! Let's get into it. Numero uno:

Arturo Diaz: To attain true inner freedom, you must be able to objectively watch your problems instead of being lost in them.

Anthony Catalino: What's the first thing that comes to mind with this?

Arturo Diaz: Whenever I get spooked by something, my tendency is to over-identify with the pain and the fear instead of just letting myself feel and letting go. I also give a lot of focus and energy to my thoughts and feelings. You don't have to become every thought or feeling you have. You can watch them float by like clouds.

Anthony Catalino: How do you suggest people start to learn how to do that?

Arturo Diaz: First of all, having awareness that that's what happens. Your mind is like a bad Shark Tank contestant—pitching every possible bad idea. It's a practice, an art. This is something I know I have to do, but it’s ongoing.

Anthony Catalino: There's definitely an art to all of this. It's wise to put it in our planner—to plan to practice it every day. The only way you're going to get good at anything is by practice. Money’s been a big one for me. I grew up in a family that always reminded me we didn’t have much, and being queer, I often felt unworthy—not just of money, but of living fully. Just a couple nights ago, I woke up stressing about bills. I know those thoughts aren't real, they don’t define me. But I was still lost in them for a couple of hours. I had a conversation with my husband and realized—I have all these tools. Meditation is one of them. I really wish I had just gotten up, put on some headphones, and breathed. Instead, I let it eat away at me. But that moment passed, and I got to laugh it out. That’s the growth. That’s the freedom.

Arturo Diaz: Eventually you will see the real cause of problems is not life itself. It's the commotion the mind makes about life that really causes the problems.

Life is usually fine. It’s your mind spinning a telenovela out of a delayed text. I’ve made so many stories out of nothing—an unread message, a weird look. We add so much unnecessary storytelling.

Anthony Catalino: If only we could just tell a more beautiful, profound, loving story.

Arturo Diaz: The mind loves to add layers. But reality is always simpler. I’ve learned to trust myself in the moment more than the commentary around it. I tell my mind to relax—there’s no problem to fix. Just observe.

Anthony Catalino: A text or email can trigger all kinds of false beliefs—“They’re mad at me,” “I messed up”—when really, the other person’s just busy. It’s all fear-based thinking. There’s nothing wrong with you. Life is as it is. Stop letting your mind make it more complicated or devastating than it is.

Arturo Diaz: Quote three: If you truly love life, don't waste time trying to control it. Trust it to take you wherever it needs to go, and open your heart to enjoy the ride.

Anthony Catalino: I connect deeply with that. I've learned to love and appreciate my life, but that took practice. It's not handed to you.

Arturo Diaz: I sometimes have to set the intention to let myself enjoy today. I can get caught in the mindset of having to "do" all the time. But then I remind myself—I asked for this. Can I have fun while doing the things I love, even when they’re hard?

Anthony Catalino: Life is a wild roller coaster. You can scream in terror, or you can throw your hands up and laugh.

Arturo Diaz: When you try to control life, it’s often because you’re not happy with where you are. But life is taking you somewhere better—somewhere you can’t even imagine. You just have to let go.

Anthony Catalino: And even the delays or detours are part of it. I’ve delayed so many things—thought I’d be a millionaire by now or have a six-pack forever. But it's all part of the ride. Growth is painful, but it brings joy. You’ll experience pain either way. Might as well choose the pain that leads to growth.

Arturo Diaz: You are not your thoughts. You are aware of your thoughts. You are not your emotions. You feel them. You are not your body. You look at it in the mirror. You are the conscious being who is aware that all these things are happening.

Anthony Catalino: People might ask, "What do you mean I'm not my body?" But you are the awareness behind it all. You’re not the chaos. You’re the observer.

Arturo Diaz: You're the director of the play, not the actor having a meltdown center stage.

Anthony Catalino: Exactly. You’re the creator. You get to choose how the story unfolds.

Arturo Diaz: Awareness is the space that holds the experience, not the experience itself.

Anthony Catalino: So how do we build more awareness?

Arturo Diaz: It’s a mindset shift. Start by saying, “I notice that I feel sad,” not “I am sad.” That distinction matters.

Anthony Catalino: Yes. You’re not defining yourself as the sadness. You’re observing a feeling.

Arturo Diaz: Just feel it and let it go. You don’t have to feel bad or ashamed. Thoughts come and go. You don’t have to believe them. Just notice them and move on.

Anthony Catalino: Think of it like a book. A wild, messed-up, beautiful book. You decide whether you’ll enjoy the ride or get lost in the drama.

Arturo Diaz: Life has so many chapters and twists. Either take it all in or close your eyes to avoid discomfort. Let go of what weighs you down so you can make room for what lifts you up.

Anthony Catalino: It’s really about compassion—for yourself, your thoughts, your body. You think 30,000 to 70,000 thoughts a day. Choose to repeat the empowering ones. And if you cry, that’s a beautiful release. For a long time, I couldn’t cry. But during the pandemic, I started letting it all out. Sarah Blondin’s meditations helped. I felt so empowered. The more I detached from who I thought I was, the freer I became.

Arturo Diaz: You don’t have to fix the storm inside you. Just remember—you were never the storm. You’ve always been the sky.

Anthony Catalino: Expansive, beautiful. Beyond the clouds, the sky never ends.

Arturo Diaz: Thank you, Anthony.

Anthony Catalino: Thank you, Art. Until next time.