Habits and Hustle – Episode 477

Guest: Jim Curtis – How to Rewire Your Brain, Break Mental Patterns, and Actually Change Your Life

Host: Jennifer Cohen
Date: August 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Habits and Hustle features Jim Curtis—now a "growth strategist," previously a transformational coach, master hypnotist, and health entrepreneur. Jennifer Cohen and Jim dive into how to overcome limiting mental patterns, raise your personal vibration, tap into deeper self-awareness, and the practical techniques Jim uses with his clients to drive lasting change. They unpack everything from the power of energy, NLP, and hypnosis, to breaking out of “mind traps” and the real mechanics behind rewiring one’s mental operating system.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jim’s Journey & Evolution (03:02–06:41)

• Background: Jim transitioned from a finance and health-tech executive to a growth strategist focused on both practical psychology and spiritual development.
• Early Intuition: From an early age, Jim could "feel energy" and was highly intuitive, partly from adapting to a turbulent home life.
• Catalyst: A major illness at age 20 deepened his empathy and sense of purpose, prompting him to focus on helping others holistically.

Notable Quote:
"If you could take practical psychology and mindset training... with a spiritual connection... that's what I do. Overcoming and transforming through any obstacle, any illness, any health issue, any feeling of self-worth, self-lack." – Jim Curtis [03:39]

2. The Divine Masculine & Energetics in Healing (07:23–12:00)

• Defining Divine Masculine: A grounded, supportive energy that provides safety and calms the nervous system—"an oak tree or redwood."
• Application: Jim doesn’t “teach” divine masculine directly; he embodies it, creating a safe energetic space for both men and women to heal from relational wounds.
• Energetic Resonance: Jim uses presence and energy regulation as primary tools before verbal intervention.

Notable Quote:
"The divine masculine is grounded and has roots... supposed to settle your nervous system." – Jim Curtis [07:30]

3. Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and Rewiring the Subconscious (11:46–13:30)

• How NLP Works: The conscious mind filters information through beliefs. NLP utilizes “embedded commands” and strategic questioning to bypass resistance and speak directly to the subconscious.
• Examples: Using powerful, open-ended questions or embedded affirmations to help shift core beliefs.

Notable Quote:
"If I say something that removes the critical mind, it gets beyond the critical mind into your subconscious programming through a question..." – Jim Curtis [12:15]

4. Raising Vibration and Frequency (15:11–18:44)

• Frequency Awareness: You know your frequency by how you feel. High energy and positivity indicate a high vibration.
• Tactics: Move your body (Jim swims daily), visualize ideal outcomes, and “stack” positive images and scenarios.
• Magnetism: High vibration attracts similar people/opportunities, while repelling others—often experienced as polarization.

Notable Quote:
"If you want to raise your frequency, there’s two things you can do: move your body, and visualize the best thing that could happen, then back it up and stack it with things you love." – Jim Curtis [16:06]

5. Mind Traps, Confirmation Bias, and Breaking Patterns (22:42–27:21)

• Mind Traps: Limiting beliefs or confirmation biases—unexamined “truths” that drive negative patterns, especially in relationships or self-worth.
• Overcoming Them:
  1. Bring awareness to the belief.
  2. Choose the opposite action (aka “Costanza Effect”: do the opposite of what you’d normally do), referencing Seinfeld’s George Costanza.
• Practical Tool: Ask yourself, “Is this absolutely true? Could there be another truth?” to dismantle mental ruts.

Notable Quote:
"We’re so certain that all this stuff is real, and it’s like, oh right, I created this." – Jim Curtis [26:57]

6. Consistency & Lasting Change (28:02–30:27)

• Sticking With Change: Insights (epiphanies) can stick, but ongoing work is necessary—just like going to the gym.
• Sustainable Shifts: Hypnosis and trance can help rewire original beliefs, making new patterns possible.

Notable Quote:
"When you have a realization, it’s forever... you’ve got to keep at this stuff." – Jim Curtis [29:57]

7. Hypnosis, Suggestibility & Letting Go of Control (38:29–46:09)

• Types of Hypnosis: Clinical (therapeutic) vs. stage (performance). Most people can experience “deep trance”/relaxation; it’s not unconsciousness or mind control.
• Control & Resistance: Type A or control-focused individuals can resist even powerful experiences (like ayahuasca); the key is finding ways to gradually release control.
• Self-Hypnosis: Light versions are possible on your own, but truly deep work benefits from expert guidance.

Demonstration Segment: Jim leads Jen through a brief trance induction (hand and peripheral vision exercise), illustrating how suggestion and relaxation work.
[40:18–43:25]

8. Identity, Manifestation & “I Am” Statements (33:05–36:22)

• Identity Shifts: "Your identity is just a program… let’s reprogram something else."
• Manifestation: Combines intention, visualization, and real-world action—passivity isn’t enough.
• Affirmations: They can help, but must be consistent, authentic, and paired with other tools.

Notable Quote:
"Manifestation is the expression of intention and action that brings about a result." – Jim Curtis [36:17]

9. Shadow Work & Emotional Integration (56:17–59:55)

• What is Shadow Work? The process of recognizing and integrating parts of yourself you dislike or deny (e.g., envy, jealousy, impatience).
• Actionable Steps:
  1. Become aware of your shadow response.
  2. Journal or reflect on it.
  3. Accept it as part of you ("make friends with it").
  4. Commit to active change or “Costanza effect” (do the opposite).
• Result: Diminishes the shadow’s control.

10. Gratitude, Accountability & Small Shifts (60:00–63:11)

• The Power of Gratitude: More than a platitude—daily practice lifts energy and refocuses attention to abundance instead of lack.
• Implementation: It’s about action, not hashtags—practice gratitude like hydration: daily, consistently, and integrally.
• Role of Coaches: Accountability matters—having someone like Jim provides both reminders and tools to stay on track.

Notable Quote:
"If you actually drink eight glasses of water a day, you'll see your skin and your body and everything change... it’s the same with gratitude." – Jim Curtis [61:16]

Bonus: Past Lives, Destiny & Healing Modalities (49:03–54:47)

• Destiny/Spiritual Perspective: Jim believes in destiny, past lives, and karmic patterns, tying this belief into his ability to help others.
• Healing Modalities: Jim has utilized and offered various holistic modalities—biohacking, salt rooms, red light therapy, etc.—which he sees as complementing mental work.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Early Intuition:
  "I used to lay in bed as a kid and I could feel the energy in my body shaking... I knew I could connect to energy really easily." – Jim Curtis [04:51]
• On Frequency:
  "You know what frequency you are by how you feel." – Jim Curtis [15:13]
• On Hypnosis:
  "Hypnosis allows you to control your own mind... Most hypnosis just allows you to have a little bit more grip on your own mind." – Jim Curtis [38:29]
• On Change:
  "Every day, one step... mind and body to a much better [life]." – Jim Curtis [63:11]

Additional Resources & Contact Info

• Contact Jim Curtis: Instagram & TikTok: @jimcurtis1
• Books: "Shift" and "The Stimulati Experience" (available on Amazon)
• Group Programs: Small virtual coaching groups (~35 people), occasional in-person meetups in NYC

Takeaways

• True, lasting change is possible, but requires consistent self-awareness, actionable steps, and sometimes expert guidance.
• Rewiring the brain and breaking formative mental patterns can happen through a blend of practical psychology (NLP, hypnosis), energetic presence, shadow work, physical health, and accountability.
• Small shifts compound; even 1-2% improvement is meaningful.
• The process is as much spiritual and energetic as it is practical; finding the right tools and mentors accelerates the journey.

For more details on Jim’s work or to join an upcoming group, follow @jimcurtis1.

“Open up the potential for just some small shift to greater. That's it. That's all I need.” – Jim Curtis [63:50]