Episode 5: Beyond Binary: Fixed vs Fluid Mode in Mindfulness & Growth - Quick Bite

Is your brain keeping you stuck in black-and-white thinking?

In this Quick Bite episode of the Relish Podcast, host Alyssia Sheikh unpacks the sneaky ways binary thinking shows up in our lives—whether it’s “good or bad,” “always or never,” or “authentic or inauthentic.” While our brains naturally crave certainty, this kind of Fixed Mode thinking can keep us trapped in old patterns and rob us of joy.

Instead, Alyssia invites you into Fluid Mode—a state of mindfulness, curiosity, and possibility. She shares her own experience of facing perfectionism during the launch of this very podcast, and how embracing imperfection and uncertainty allowed her to reconnect with presence.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why transformation isn’t binary—it unfolds on a spectrum
• How Fixed Mode keeps us stuck in autopilot and fear
• What Fluid Mode is, and why it opens us to creativity & freedom
• How “Both/And” thinking helps us move beyond black-and-white patterns
• A practical reflection question you can take into your day

This short, soulful reframe is your reminder: the journey itself is the point. Transformation happens in the transitions, not just in the dramatic “before and after.”

Reflection to try today: Ask yourself—Am I in Fixed Mode or Fluid Mode right now? And if I’m stuck in Either/Or, what would it look like to shift into the grey—with more openness and curiosity?

Follow & Connect:

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• IG: @alyssiasheikh
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• YouTube: Alyssia Sheikh

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Listen to Episode 3: From Reacting to Responding (BLIPS Framework) → https://www.alyssiasheikh.com/blog/from-reacting-to-responding