I Got That From You

So many of our daily habits, like the recipes we make, the phrases we use, or the books we love, came to us through someone else. We rarely notice how much of everyday life was picked up from friends, family, or coworkers along the way. Today’s edition is about taking a moment to notice those small inheritances and give credit to where they started.

Today’s Quick Overview:

💞 Relationship Minute: Let good influence land…
🧠 Thinking Traps: Changed doesn’t mean controlled…
📰 Mental Health News: Forests, dreams, and wellbeing…
🍽️ Food & Mood: What makes pistachios colorful…

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that having an answer matters more than being honest. What if “I don’t know yet” was allowed?

Try saying “I’m not sure yet” once this week, in a low-stakes moment. What happened in the room after you said it? Did anything actually break?

A lot of what we love came from someone else first. How often do you realize something you thought was just ‘you’ actually started with another person?

Things People Left With Me

Think about the way you make your eggs, the band you still listen to, the phrase you say without remembering where you got it. A lot of what we love came from someone else first. This is a simple printable page to track the habits, music, recipes, and traditions passed down from people in your life. Keep a running record of the small things you do and where they came from.

Last chance: the FREE journal is back for 30 more people

When we closed the welcome-gift offer, the messages kept coming: “I missed it — is there any way?” So we counted what’s left in the warehouse and we’re reopening it one final time. Exactly 30 copies of the You Are Enough 90-Day Journal remain, and when they’re claimed, this offer closes for good. No second reopen.

If you’re kind to everyone except yourself, this journal was written for you. It’s built by our licensed therapists on CBT and self-compassion research, and over 90 days it gives you:

Here’s the deal, same as before: join The Daily Wellness and we ship the journal to your door, free. Your digital bonuses unlock the moment you join. Cancel anytime; the journal stays yours.

One thing to know: we can only ship to US addresses. If that’s you, don’t wait on this one.

30 left · Free shipping to US addresses · Cancel anytime, keep the gift

“If They Influenced Me, It Wasn’t Really My Choice”

What it is: This thinking trap treats any outside influence as proof that you’ve lost your own mind. If someone else’s idea changed how you think, you assume you must be copying them or disappearing into them.

What it sounds like:

Why it’s a trap: Someone can introduce an idea without making the decision for you. You can hear something, turn it over, and decide it fits. Being moved by someone you trust is different from being moved against your will. Influence can still go wrong, though.

If you changed your mind because you were worn down, guilted, or afraid of losing the relationship, that’s pressure, and it’s worth noticing. Pressure and genuine influence can sometimes feel similar at first, so it helps to ask a clearer question.

Try this instead: Ask yourself: “Did I feel pushed into this, or did something they showed me actually make sense to me?”

Today’s Thought Tweak:

When Someone Changes Your Mind, and That’s a Good Thing

The Scenario: You used to think you hated something. Maybe it was a food, a book, a way of spending a Saturday. Then a friend showed it to you differently, and somewhere along the way you started to enjoy it. Or your partner talked about rest in a way that made you rethink your own rules around it.

Or a coworker said something in a meeting that actually shifted how you see the work. Nobody forced anything. Someone you trust showed you something, and you let it land. Looking back, you feel a little lighter about it.

The Insight: Close relationships shape us. We pick up habits, opinions, and small ways of seeing things from the people we spend time with. That doesn’t mean we’ve lost ourselves. It’s part of how people grow alongside each other.

What matters is whether the influence felt chosen and respectful. Did you have room to disagree? Did you end up somewhere that fits you? A relationship doesn’t become stronger just because neither person ever changes their mind.

The Strategy: Notice the moments when someone’s perspective genuinely shifted you. Ask what made it land: the idea itself, the way they shared it, or the fact that you already trusted them. Then consider telling them. Most people never find out they’ve made a difference to someone.

Why It Matters: You don’t have to protect every opinion you’ve ever held. You get to keep what fits and let go of what doesn’t, and the people who love you can be part of that.

Try This Next Time: Think of one opinion, habit, or way of seeing things that someone else gave you. Ask yourself: “Did it feel like my choice?” If yes, that’s worth noticing, and maybe worth telling them. Being yourself doesn’t require staying untouched by everyone you love.

I can let someone’s way of seeing things reach me today, and I can still decide what fits. Being shaped by people I trust doesn’t make me less myself.

Think of one thing you like, believe, or do differently now because of someone in your life. Maybe a food, a habit, a way of handling a bad day. Notice how ordinary it feels now, like it was always yours.

It’s okay to keep your own view, too. Some changes in us come from being shown something, and some come from being worn down or wanting to keep the peace. You get to tell those apart, and you don’t owe anyone a different answer.

Pick one opinion or habit you picked up from someone else. Ask yourself, “Did that feel like my choice?” If it did, notice that. If you’re not sure, that’s worth noticing too.

When You Want to Tell Someone “You Changed My Mind”

The Scenario: When you first moved in together, your partner insisted on slow Saturday mornings. No errands, no alarm, just coffee and nowhere to be. You thought it was a waste of a good day and said so more than once. Somewhere along the way, you started looking forward to it. Now you protect those mornings more than they do.

Or maybe it’s a friend who got you to try therapy, a sibling whose take on your parents shifted how you see your childhood, or a coworker who changed how you handle feedback. Someone close to you changed how you see something, and you’ve never actually told them.

Try saying this: “I used to see this really differently. Something you said stuck with me, and it changed how I think about it. I wanted you to know that.”

Why It Works: Most people never find out when they’ve made a difference to someone, so hearing it means a lot. You’re also saying it made sense to you, which keeps the choice yours. Not every relationship conversation has to be about fixing something.

Pro Tip: This script is for change that felt like your own choice. If you find yourself shifting your views mainly to keep someone happy or avoid their reaction, that’s worth a closer look, and it’s a different conversation.

Important: These scripts work best when direct communication is safe and appropriate. Complex situations, including abusive dynamics, certain mental health conditions, cultural contexts with different communication norms, or circumstances where speaking up could escalate harm, often require personalized strategies. A mental health professional familiar with your specific circumstances can help you navigate boundary-setting in ways that fit your specific relationships and keep you safe.

Spotlight Ingredient: Pistachios

Most nuts are plain beige or brown, but pistachios stand out by carrying three distinct plant pigments in a single shell: green chlorophyll, yellow carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin), and purple anthocyanins.

Among commonly eaten nuts, pistachios contain uniquely high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. While lutein is best known for collecting in the retina to support vision, it also accumulates in brain tissue, leading researchers to examine its potential connection to cognitive function.

Current clinical trial results on lutein's effect on memory and executive function remain mixed, and isolated supplement studies don't equal a handful of whole nuts. The real value of pistachios isn't a miraculous memory boost; it's that they deliver these plant pigments naturally alongside healthy fats, fiber, protein, and minerals.

Your daily dose: A small handful (about 30 grams or 1 oz) a few times a week provides a dense mix of nutrients. Raw, unsalted, or lightly roasted options are best if you're watching sodium intake. Skip them if you have a tree nut allergy.

Simple Recipe: Pistachio Yogurt Bowl with Honey

Prep time: 5 minutes | Serves: 1

Ingredients:

Steps:

Why it works: Pistachios bring their carotenoids packaged with healthy fats, and the yogurt adds protein to make a snack that holds you over.

Mindful Eating Moment: Before you eat, look closely at a shelled pistachio. The green, the yellow, the occasional purple are all visible signs of different plant compounds. You don’t need to know what each one does to enjoy noticing them.

Evening Reset: Notice, Write, Settle

You’re in the passenger seat on a late afternoon drive, windows cracked, warm air moving through the car. Someone else is driving, and the radio is on a station you never would have picked. You keep meaning to change it. Somewhere past a long stretch of fields, you notice your foot tapping against the floor mat. A chorus comes around, and you realize you know the words. The driver glances over and smiles but doesn’t say anything. The road keeps unrolling ahead of you, and the song plays on.

Spend three minutes writing: Who has changed the way I see something, and what made it land? Was it the idea, the way they shared it, or the fact that I already trusted them?

Close your notebook and ask yourself: Where did someone’s view reach me today, and did I get to decide what to do with it? Is there a change in me lately that felt more like pressure than choice? Is there someone I’ve never told that they made a difference?

“Through others we become ourselves.” - Lev Vygotsky

You can be shaped by the people you love and still be the one who chooses.

Are you a therapist, psychologist, or mental health professional with something meaningful to share?

We're opening up space in our newsletter for expert voices from the field — and we'd love to hear from you.

Whether it’s a personal insight, a professional perspective, or a practical tip for everyday mental health, your voice could make a difference to thousands of readers.

👉 Click here to apply to contribute — it only takes 2 minutes.

Coming Thursday: Your ability to choose the easier way, recognizing that a simpler method can still be a good one without needing to earn it through struggle.

Researched and edited by Natasha. Designed with love by Kaye.

Love what you read? Share this newsletter with someone who might benefit. Your recommendation helps our community grow.

*The Daily Wellness shares educational content only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice and diagnosis. Please consult a licensed provider for personalized care.