The Mindset Shift That Healed My Relationship With My Father | Monday Moments

In this Monday Moments episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow shares a deeply personal story about growing up with a difficult relationship with his father and the life-changing wisdom passed down from his grandmother, Grandma Chickie, a practicing Buddhist. Her mantra “Bless you, change me” became a guiding principle that transformed how he handles conflict, emotional triggers, and challenging relationships.

Michael explains that the phrase is a reminder that we cannot control or change other people—only how we receive, interpret, and respond to them. Instead of reacting with defensiveness or anger, the mantra encourages blessing the other person with positivity while doing the inner work to shift your own mindset. Whether you’re dealing with parents, bosses, coworkers, or anyone you can’t easily avoid, this episode offers a practical and spiritual framework for navigating conflict with maturity and emotional intelligence.

From childhood struggles to tattooing the mantra on his arm as a permanent reminder, Michael reflects on loss, perspective, and the discipline of responding instead of reacting.

If you’re working on personal growth, emotional resilience, or healing difficult relationships, this episode offers a simple but powerful tool you can start using today.