118: Struggling With Depression? The Five Pillars I'm Using to Rebuild Myself Before It's TOO LATE

Send us Fan Mail I'm getting personal. I'm filming this right before September, heading into the last third of 2026, and I want to be honest with you about where I've really been. Back in March I walked away from a position that had been both a calling and an income stream to focus fully on this show and on real estate, and in the months since, I've found myself quietly struggling with depression. I've put on weight, I've procrastinated, I've felt myself spiraling, all while sitting here encouraging you guys to make your next third your best third. A few weeks ago I hit a wall and decided it was time to take my own advice and go back to the five pillars this whole show is built on. I walk you through exactly what that's looked like pillar by pillar. In my thought life, I'd fallen into aimless scrolling, so I've committed to putting my phone away earlier and challenged myself to read eight books by the end of the year. Physically, I'd let myself get out of shape, so I removed alcohol from my evenings, added daily intentional exercise, and started eating more protein. Emotionally, I had to get my hands dirty and dig into where my fear and anxiety were really coming from, which for me traced back to watching my own father pass away with no real financial foundation, and I talk about why shining light into that darkness, the same way I used to check the closet for my scared kids, makes all the difference. The pillar that surprised me most was relationships. I'm a deeply relational guy, but I realized I'd been quietly isolating myself, not reaching out, just responding when others called. So I've started making the calls again, meeting friends for lunch and coffee, and investing more in my kids and grandkids. And finally I get honest about the fifth pillar, the lies I've believed about myself since childhood sexual abuse, lies about not deserving anything good, and how those lies never fully go away but can be recognized and replaced. I'm asking you to join me in revisiting your own five pillars this next third of the year, because a better version of you isn't just for you, it's for the legacy and the people in your sphere of influence. Thanks for joining me, and I'll see you next time on Next Third Best Third. Chapters: 00:00 – Getting Personal  02:26 – Admitting the Struggle 04:48 – Pillar One: Reclaiming My Thought Life Through Reading  07:06 – Pillar Two: Cutting Alcohol and Rebuilding My Body  09:33 – Shining Light Into the Darkness of Emotions  11:52 – Pillar Four: Breaking Out of Self-Isolation  14:15 – Pillar Five: The Lies I've Believed for Decades  16:35 – Your Challenge 19:01 – Examine Your Relationships and Make the Call  21:18 – Building a Legacy, Not Just a Better Version of You Welcome to Next Third Best Third! Join us for the inaugural episode of the Next Third Best Third podcast! Host David Fenwick, founder, author, and life coach, introduces the mission to inspire men over 40 to thrive in the next stage of life. Discover how to conquer life's challenges across physical, mental, relational, spiritual, and emotional dimensions. In this episode, David shares insights on: \- Physical Health: Strategies for maintaining fitness and vitality as you age. \- Mental Resilience: Techniques to stay mentally sharp and manage stress. \- Relational Growth: Building and nurturing meaningful relationships. \- Spiritual Fulfillment: Finding purpose and deeper spiritual connections. \- Emotional Well-being: Managing emotions and fostering a positive outlook. Don't miss out on this journey towards making the next third of your life the best third! Website: (https://www.nextthirdbestthird.com/)