Ep. 60 – Rice

Let Go of Your Rice: What’s Holding You Back?

Some episodes hit deeper than others, and this one is no exception. In this episode of Pillar Talk, we get real about the things we hold onto—the limitations we impose on ourselves that keep us stuck. Inspired by recent events, personal reflections, and a powerful analogy about an Indian monkey trap, we break down the barriers that prevent us from truly living.

The episode opens with a tough but necessary reflection: life is unpredictable, and time isn’t promised to anyone. Chris found himself reflecting on what unfinished business he’d leave behind if he were suddenly gone. This led to an emotional exercise—writing letters to his loved ones as if they were his final words. The most eye-opening realization? The things that consume our daily thoughts and stress us out the most are the things that don’t make the cut in those letters. If they don’t matter in the end, why do we let them take up so much of our energy?

This all ties into the idea of the Indian monkey trap, where monkeys get caught because they refuse to let go of the rice inside a coconut. They hold on so tightly that they trap themselves—just like we do with fear, relationships, excuses, and past pain. We hold onto things that don’t serve us, and in doing so, we prevent ourselves from growing, from moving forward, from being free.

Chris dives into four key things we often grip too tightly:

• Fear – It keeps us paralyzed, afraid of failure and discomfort. But action kills fear. The more you move forward, the less power fear has.
• The Wrong People – Whether it’s toxic relationships, bad work environments, or unfulfilling friendships, holding onto the wrong people keeps the right ones from coming into your life.
• Time – We either think we have too much of it or not enough. The truth? You have less than you think, and your goals aren’t as far off as they seem—if you start now.
• Pain & Suffering – Pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice. If you learn from the pain, you grow. If you hold onto it, you stay stuck.

This episode is about recognizing your own rice—your self-imposed limitations—and making the choice to let go. Because once you do, you free yourself to become who you were meant to be.

No fluff. No excuses. Just real talk on what’s holding you back and how to break through it. Tune in now.