Personal Mastery with Jerry Henderson

You deserve a life that feels as extraordinary on the inside as it looks on the outside—and Personal Mastery with Jerry Henderson (formerly The Permission to Love Podcast) will help you build it.

I’m Jerry Henderson, creator of the Personal Mastery Framework™, high-performance and trauma-informed coach, Harvard-trained in the psychology of human behavior, researcher, author, and speaker.

Every week, I—along with world-renow...

 Today is a moment that I want to honor with a deep sense of gratitude — the final episode under the Permission to Love name. 

Starting next week, this podcast will officially become Personal Mastery with Jerry Henderson. 

In this episode I reflect on the journey we've taken together — healing shame, cultivating self-love, and building lives aligned from the inside out. 

I also shares why self-love remains the foundation of every...

In this powerful episode, we explore the father wound — what it is, how it forms, and how it continues to shape our relationships, sense of self-worth, and emotional health. 

Drawing from personal experience and evidence-based practices, I walk you through key insights and healing strategies, including reparenting, grief work, and authentic forgiveness. 

Whether your father was absent, abusive, or emotionally unavailable, this episod...

Have you ever felt like life is slipping through your fingers, even as you chase your dreams and hit your goals? 

You’re not alone. In this episode, I unpack the hidden reasons high achievers and those on a healing journey often feel disconnected from their own lives. 

Grounded in neuroscience and real-world experience, I walk you through five powerful, practical steps to stop life from feeling like a blur — and instead, step fully i...

In this empowering episode, we explore the essential role of grit in personal mastery and growth. 

You’ll learn why grit is more than just pushing through — it’s about purpose, resilience, and sustained passion for your goals. We look at the practical, research-backed strategies to build grit in a way that’s healthy and sustainable, not self-destructive.

In the episode I also opens up about my own journey of perseverance through addi...

In this powerful transition episode, I share a heartfelt announcement: Permission to Love is evolving. Starting May 4th, the podcast will become Personal Mastery with Jerry Henderson—a space dedicated to helping you thrive emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and relationally.

Together we reflect on the journey so far, the healing roots of the show, and why self-love is just the beginning. 

This next chapter builds on that foundation ...

In this episode we dive into part two of the course on learning how to love yourself. If you haven't listened to part one yet, make sure to check that out first—it sets the foundation for today's practical steps. 

In this episode we walk through the science and psychology behind self-love, providing actionable tools to help you shift your thoughts, words, actions, and relationships toward greater self-acceptance. 

If you&ap...

In this special two-part series, I’m sharing a powerful course I developed on learning how to love yourself. If you’ve ever struggled with self-acceptance, carried feelings of shame, or felt like you had to keep achieving to prove your worth — this episode is for you. 

I'll share my personal journey from deep shame and self-loathing to learning how to love myself, and how you can start healing your relationship with yourself.

In...

In this episode, we’re diving into a hard truth that so many high achievers face but rarely talk about—shame-based achievement. Why do we chase success and still feel empty when we get it? Why does the high from accomplishment fade so quickly, leaving us feeling even more inadequate? The truth is that many high achievers are driven not by passion, but by fear—fear of being unworthy, fear of failure, fear of rejection.

Today, we are ...

Your relationship with yourself is the foundation of EVERYTHING.

No amount of success, validation, or external achievement can replace a healthy self-relationship. And yet, so many high achievers and trauma survivors neglect this relationship the most.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• Why your relationship with yourself shapes every part of your life
• The 5 key areas that determine self-worth & self-trust
• How self-talk, thoughts, an...

Have you ever wondered why you keep repeating painful patterns—whether in relationships, self-sabotaging behaviors, burnout, or feelings of never quite arriving? 

In this episode we explore the neuroscience and psychology behind trauma reenactment—why we unconsciously repeat painful cycles and how we can break free from them.

You'll learn:

• What trauma reenactment is and why it keeps us stuck in toxic patterns.
• The neuroscience...

In this transformative episode of the Permission to Love podcast, we explore how to rewire your mind for a new reality. 

If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns, trapped by limiting beliefs, or unable to make real change despite your self-awareness, this episode is for you.

Through guided exercises, powerful insights, and neuroscience-backed strategies, you’ll discover:

• Why your identity is a repeated pattern of thoughts and emo...

Have you ever felt like your nervous system is stuck in overdrive, constantly caught in fight-or-flight mode? 

In this episode, we explore how self-criticism keeps us in a cycle of stress and anxiety, and how self-compassion can help regulate our nervous system, allowing us to feel safe and at peace.

We look at the science behind self-judgment, its impact on the brain, and why self-compassion is one of the most effective ways to rewi...

In this episode of Permission to Love, we dive deep into the pervasive struggle of self-hatred and how to begin the journey toward self-love. 

As a part of this episode we examine the research-backed strategies and practical tools to help you break free from cycles of self-loathing. 

Learn how to reprogram the negative beliefs that have been holding you back and embrace the transformational power of self-compassion. 

Whether you'...

In this episode of the Resilient by Design series, we dive into practical, research-backed strategies to help you proactively build resilience. 

Learn how to create a toolkit that strengthens your ability to bounce back from life's challenges and thrive in the face of adversity. 

We explore the importance of social support, emotional regulation, cognitive tools, problem-solving, spirituality, and self-care. <...

In this episode of the Permission to Love Podcast, we continue the Resilient by Design series, focusing on three essential cognitive tools to help you build resilience, reframe stress, and create a healthier relationship with yourself. 

Stress can often feel overwhelming, but in this episode we look at the research-backed strategies that demonstrate how reframing stress and shifting our mindset can unlock personal growth a...

In this episode, we dive into practical tools to access positive emotions and build emotional resilience—your ability to adapt to adversity and stay aligned with the life you want to create. 

Learn how emotions serve as a compass, guiding you toward meaningful actions, and discover actionable strategies to manage negative emotions, elicit positive ones, and break the cycles of self-sabotage.

Drawing from research ...

In this episode of the “Resilient by Design” series, we explore what emotional resilience really is and why it’s essential for overcoming challenges and staying aligned with our personal goals and values. 

We examine research-backed strategies for developing emotional awareness, practicing self-compassion, engaging in mindfulness, and cultivating a supportive community—“emotional spotters”—to help us handle life’s ups and ...

In this episode, we begin an exciting new series titled Resilient by Design. Together, we explore what resilience truly means, how trauma impacts our capacity to be resilient, and practical ways to cultivate resilience in our lives. 

Drawing on research, neuropsychology, and personal insights, we discuss how resilience isn’t about being unshakable but about adapting to life's challenges.

Learn how survival resilience d...