MJP-009: Triggers, Malware, and Growth You Didn’t Ask For

Tyrone Jenkins

Alright, alright, folks, welcome to the Mind Jedi Podcast! Where we talk all things mental fitness, emotional struggles, and somehow, Jedi metaphors always sneak their way in. Don’t ask me how—it just works. I’m Tyrone, your comic relief and occasional philosopher.

Unknown Speaker

Hi, everyone. I’m Kaia. No jokes, no punchlines, just… grounded conversations. Tyrone, you might be the philosopher, but don’t sleep on pragmatism. It’s where the real work happens.

Tyrone Jenkins

Ohoho, hold up. Are we beefin’ already? Five seconds in and pragmatism’s already got my name on a hit list. What’d I do, Kaia?

Unknown Speaker

It’s not hostility, just truth. Let’s be real—your jokes make the hard stuff bearable, but then there’s the part where people have to sit with the discomfort. That’s not funny… but it’s essential.

Tyrone Jenkins

Oh, deep already. I see how it’s gonna be today. Listeners, she’s keeping us honest right out the gate. But that’s why we work, right? She brings the calm, and I bring the chaos.

Unknown Speaker

I think that’s one way to frame it. But, hey, balance is key, isn’t it? Speaking of balance, today’s topic is going to get into something we all face, whether we like it or not—emotional growth. How we navigate triggers, deal with messy feelings, and somehow find gratitude in it all.

Tyrone Jenkins

Oof, yeah, gratitude’s a big one. Like, "Thanks, life, for all the uncomfortable lessons I didn’t ask for. Much appreciated."

Unknown Speaker

I mean… yes? That’s kinda the whole point. Growth doesn’t come wrapped in a nice little bow. It demands something from us.

Tyrone Jenkins

And here I was hoping life would just Venmo me my growth without asking for emotional receipts. But alright, we’ll dive in, won’t we? Listeners, buckle up, because Kaia’s about to take us on a journey through why people act the way they do—and why we need to just… let them.

Unknown Speaker

Alright, Tyrone said it—buckle up. Let’s start with a simple truth that’s anything but easy to live with. People are, by default, irrational and emotional. It’s just how humans are wired. When I first understood this, it simplified so many of my interactions. It stopped feeling personal and started feeling… human.

Tyrone Jenkins

Wait, so you’re telling me that all those times my neighbor parked across my driveway, or when my aunt brought her "famous" potato salad to the barbecue, knowing no one eats it—that wasn’t personal?

Unknown Speaker

Not at all. They’re probably not even thinking about you. People act based on their own experiences, fears, and assumptions. Their behavior makes sense—to them—even when it seems nonsensical to us.

Tyrone Jenkins

Alright, but how do you stop yourself from losing it when their "sense" feels like nonsense?

Unknown Speaker

You remind yourself to expect rain to be wet. That’s the metaphor I use. If you expect people to act irrationally or emotionally, it stops being such a shock when it happens. It’s like… rain. Rain is wet, it soaks you. That’s just its nature. So why get mad at it for being what it is?

Tyrone Jenkins

Ah, okay, rain’s wet. And people, well, they’re complicated puddles of emotions. Got it. But come on, Kaia, you’ve gotta admit—it’s easier said than done. Sometimes it’s like expecting directions from a spinning compass. Good luck finding north!

Unknown Speaker

You’re not wrong. It’s hard to step back and not react, especially when emotions are high or when it feels personal. But that’s why this perspective is so freeing. When we stop expecting people to behave rationally all the time, their actions lose that sting of personal betrayal. Instead, we see them for what they are, not what we wish they’d be.

Tyrone Jenkins

I hear you, but there’s gotta be a catch. You’re saying this magic perspective works all the time?

Unknown Speaker

Not magic—just practice. It doesn’t mean you’re okay with bad behavior, but it saves you energy by not taking it all personally. And look, if you expect rain to be wet... every now and then, you’re pleasantly surprised when the sun comes out.

Tyrone Jenkins

That’s real. Optimism with a weather forecast. I like it. Listeners, take notes: next time someone does something wild, instead of snapping, say, "It’s just the rain doing its thing." Or, I guess, people being their messy selves.

Unknown Speaker

Exactly. And when you stop fighting it, you save yourself so much frustration. You can focus on how you want to respond instead of wasting time figuring out "why" they acted that way.

Tyrone Jenkins

Man, that's deep. I’m gon’ be walking around with an umbrella of patience now. But alright, Kaia, you seem like you’ve got this thing mastered. Did it always come this easy to you?

Unknown Speaker

Not even close. It’s something I had to learn, mostly through trial and error. Actually, there’s a lot to unpack here—especially when it comes to how your past shapes your triggers and the way you react to criticism. But we’ll get to that.

Tyrone Jenkins

I knew there was more. Alright, folks, you’re gonna wanna stick around ‘cause next up, Kaia’s taking us inside her own story—talking about unpacking childhood triggers and learning how to actually rewire those knee-jerk reactions. Don’t go anywhere.

Unknown Speaker

Alright, Tyrone, let’s dive in. Triggers—those emotional landmines that seem invisible until someone steps on them, right? For me, the big one has always been criticism. Just a certain tone can sometimes set off this visceral, instinctive "I’m not good enough" reaction. It’s wild how deeply those feelings can take root.

Tyrone Jenkins

Oof, you went right for the deep stuff, Kaia. I mean, for me, it’s kinda simpler. Like, my trigger? Folks messing with my food. You take the last slice of pizza without asking, and I might consider deleting your contact.

Unknown Speaker

It’s funny, but it makes sense. The things that set us off are so tied to our personal history. For me, it goes back to childhood. Feeling like I could never meet certain expectations, being criticized a lot... It stuck with me, even when I didn’t realize it was happening. I had this belief: "I’m not good enough." And it... hijacked me.

Tyrone Jenkins

Man, I wish I could just Jedi mind trick myself sometimes—like, ‘This is not the trigger you’re looking for.’”

Unknown Speaker

If only it worked like that. But nah—this is more like Yoda-style growth. Slow. Messy. Training upside down in a swamp... while your brain’s yelling at you.

Tyrone Jenkins

And just like Yoda, the lessons are weird and uncomfortable, and you don't even know if you're getting stronger or just losing your mind. Man...hijacked is right. Triggers are sneaky like that. One minute you’re fine, and the next, it’s like your brain hit the 'time travel to trauma' button. Like me and my grandma’s callaloo. She put okra in and tried to tell me it was "the same." It wasn’t the same, Kaia. I’ve been holding that grudge since I was eight.

Unknown Speaker

See, but that’s the point. Whether it’s okra in your grandmother’s soup or someone’s tone of voice, the reaction isn’t really about the present. It’s about the past. About what that moment reminds you of, deep down.

Tyrone Jenkins

Yeah, you’re right. Like, it’s not about the soup—it’s about betrayal! Ok, not betrayal. But it’s the same idea, right? All these reactions? They’re echoes of something bigger.

Unknown Speaker

Exactly. The good news is, when you understand that, you can start working on it. For me, it’s all about awareness. When I feel that reaction bubbling up, I pause. I ask myself: "Is this about what’s happening right now, or is this old stuff showing up?”

Tyrone Jenkins

Wait, wait, so you’re saying you can just pause mid-trigger? Like, for real? I need a little magic to pull that off. What’s the trick?

Unknown Speaker

No magic, just practice. It’s recognizing the feeling before it takes over. Your body gives you a signal—maybe it’s tension in your shoulders, or your stomach drops. For me, it’s this tightness, like I’m bracing for something. That’s when I know to breathe, step back mentally, and remind myself it’s not about this moment.

Tyrone Jenkins

So, wait. You talk yourself down in real time? Like, "Hey, Kaia, don’t freak out, it’s just a trigger"?

Unknown Speaker

Kind of, yeah. It’s like rewiring. You notice it, name it, and then choose a different response. Instead of reacting emotionally, I respond intentionally. It’s not easy, but it’s possible.

Tyrone Jenkins

Man, my rewiring would probably take, like, a whole IT department. But okay, I can see it. You’re basically saying, don’t just run the old script over and over.

Unknown Speaker

Exactly. And the more you practice, the easier it gets. You’re retraining your brain, one reaction at a time. But the first step is awareness—learning to spot the trigger at work.

Tyrone Jenkins

Alright, folks, you heard it here: your brain can learn new tricks. But real talk, Kaia. Did you have one of those moments where you were like, "Oh, I see it now—this is why I react this way”?

Unknown Speaker

For sure. I remember once, during an argument, my boyfriend said something that wasn’t even harsh—just a comment. But I froze. My reaction was way bigger than the moment called for. I realized it wasn’t about him; it was about hearing criticism as a kid. That’s when I knew I had to unpack it—so I could stop carrying it forward.

Tyrone Jenkins

Whew. That’s deep. And you’re saying we’ve all got these little landmines just waiting to go off?

Unknown Speaker

Pretty much. But here’s the thing—you don’t have to let them control you. Awareness is the first step. From there, you can start rewiring how you respond, instead of being at the mercy of those old wounds.

Tyrone Jenkins

Alright, looks like I’ve got homework. But before I try rewiring my emotional motherboard, tell me, Kaia… do you ever bring your cybersecurity skills into all this mental fitness stuff? Like, are triggers kind of like malware or what?

Unknown Speaker

You know, Tyrone, you’re not far off with that malware analogy. I’ve been thinking about it, and honestly, emotional awareness is kind of like running a cybersecurity scan on your mind. You have to identify the malware—the negative patterns, the self-talk, the triggers—and then address it before it crashes your system.

Tyrone Jenkins

Hold up, Kaia. Are you saying my brain’s running Windows 98 and needs an update?

Unknown Speaker

If you’re letting old thought patterns run the show, then maybe. But it’s not about the software—it’s about being aware of what’s in the system and intentional about what you allow to stay active.

Tyrone Jenkins

Okay, so what you’re saying is: my ex who keeps popping up on my feed? That’s malware.

Unknown Speaker

Exactly. And removing negativity is sometimes as simple as hitting "unfollow" or "block." One click, and you’ve cleared a path back to peace.

Tyrone Jenkins

Man, sometimes peace really is just a click away. Folks, take note. Your mental feed doesn’t have to include every piece of drama that asks for a follow-back.

Unknown Speaker

It’s true, and as simple as that sounds, it does take effort. Even in our own thoughts, it’s about being mindful of what we’re amplifying. Are we replaying the drama or giving space to our gratitude?

Tyrone Jenkins

Speaking of gratitude, I see what you’re doing here—tying it all back. So, what are you grateful for, Kaia? And don’t go giving me the "world peace" answer, alright?

Unknown Speaker

Fair enough. Honestly, I’m grateful for the discomfort. For what it’s taught me and how it’s forced me to grow. It’s not easy to say that, but without those challenges, I wouldn’t have gotten here—to a place where I can respond instead of react, where I can choose peace over chaos.

Tyrone Jenkins

Wow. Alright, that’s deep. For me, I’m grateful that life still lets us laugh. Some days, it feels like humor’s the only thing keeping me sane while I sort through all the mess. Like, who knew that laughter could be its own antivirus software?

Unknown Speaker

Exactly, and it all adds up, doesn’t it? Gratitude, laughter, intentional choices—they’re all pieces of the process. When we focus on what we’re grateful for instead of stewing in the negativity, we start to shift our perspective, and that brings a different kind of peace.

Tyrone Jenkins

Alright, listeners, you heard it here. Life’s throwing malware, but we’ve got the tools to handle it: gratitude, humor, and maybe a solid metaphor or two courtesy of Kaia. More to come, so don’t go anywhere.

Tyrone Jenkins

Alright, folks, so we ended on gratitude, humor, and that whole mental malware cleanup. But it’s got me thinking—why does clearing out the mental junk feel like such an uphill battle? Kaia, I know you’ve got some thoughts on this one.

Unknown Speaker

And Tyrone's been reminding us that humor is its own kind of therapy. But seriously, this whole conversation boils down to a few simple takeaways. One, expect rain to be wet—don’t be surprised when people act irrationally. It’s human nature.

Tyrone Jenkins

Two, don't let emotional rainstorms soak you through. Grab your umbrella—that’s your awareness. Step back and ask: “Is this reaction about right now, or is that old stuff talking?”

Unknown Speaker

Exactly. And three, take time to scan your mental system. Ask yourself: what thoughts or patterns are you holding onto that don’t serve you? Clear out the negativity, amplify the gratitude, and focus on the progress you’ve already made.

Tyrone Jenkins

Right, and we’re not saying you’ve gotta overhaul your whole operating system overnight. Start small. Maybe practice that pause next time you feel triggered. Or, you know, unfollow that ex who keeps popping up in your feed.

Unknown Speaker

Small steps add up. Over time, they create the change you’re looking for. So here’s our challenge to you: pick one thing from today’s conversation and try it. Maybe it’s expecting less from people and finding peace in their humanness. Maybe it’s rewiring a trigger. Just… start somewhere.

Tyrone Jenkins

And remember to laugh while you’re at it. Life throws curveballs, sure, but sometimes you gotta stop ducking and just let one hit you—softly though, not like the therapist’s version of “face your problems.”

Unknown Speaker

Laughing definitely helps. Growth comes with discomfort, yes, but it can also come with moments of lightness. Be kind to yourself in the process.

Tyrone Jenkins

So, folks, that’s all for this episode of the Mind Jedi Podcast. Go out there, face the rain, clean the system, and maybe crack a joke while you’re at it. We’ll catch you next time—same time, same Jedi vibes.

Unknown Speaker

Take care, everyone. Thanks for joining us. If this resonated, share it, subscribe, or leave us a message at mindjediacademy at Gmail.com. And remember, peace is always possible—even when the storm rolls in.