I Can’t Get No Satisfaction: Briana Marie Of Major League Mommy On Why So Many Of Us Are Feeling Unsatisfied & What We Can Do About It

An Interview With Drew Gerber

Don’t pursue, ATTRACT. When you stop chasing and instead focus on being the type of person that has whatever it is you so deeply desire, your entire life will begin to change.

From an objective standpoint, we are living in an unprecedented era of abundance. Yet so many of us are feeling unsatisfied. Why are we seemingly so insatiable? What is going on inside of us that is making us feel unsatisfied? What is the brain chemistry that makes us feel this way? Is our brain wired for endless insatiable consumption? What can we do about it? In this interview series, we are talking to credentialed experts such as psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, brain science experts, as well as spiritual and religious leaders, and mind-body-spirit coaches, to address why so many of us are feeling unsatisfied & what we can do about it.

As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Briana Marie.

Briana Marie is the founder of Major League Mommy blog. Through her blog, she brings together talented writers and experts to share informational and lifestyle content to help moms achieve a well-balanced life. She is also a fierce advocate for mental health awareness and financial literacy.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to know how you got from “there to here.” Inspire us with your backstory!

Thank you for having me. I would love to give a quick overview of my backstory. Basically, I had struggled with anxiety and depression for many years as a teenager and young adult. Then at 19, I had my first child which really added to the pressure that I was already experiencing. As any parent will tell you, parenting can be really hard especially when you’re still trying to figure yourself out.

But as a mom, I had a new motivation to free myself from the heaviness and create a more pleasant experience for both myself and my child. That is really what sprung me into this journey of self-exploration and awareness.

I started consuming as much content as possible about personal development, law of attraction, and spirituality. I would apply what I learned almost immediately and just kind of turned this process into an experiment. But through this experience, I have learned so much and have been able to unlock new levels that I never even knew existed within myself.

I decided to start Major League Mommy in 2015 after having my second child, because I wanted to share my experience and all that I was learning with other moms.

What lessons would you share with yourself if you had the opportunity to meet your younger self?

I would tell myself that as long as you are looking at the problems, you will see the problems. If you instead focus on the solutions, the problems will eventually disappear. With this mindset, you will always find that light at the end of the tunnel.

I used to be so fixated on the problems I had to solve and it just kept me in a chronic state of stress. Once I started focusing more on solutions and less on the problems themselves, things began working out with greater ease.

The great thing about every problem is that they have a solution and changing my mindset surrounding that made all the difference.

It is truly amazing how such a small change can have such a massive impact!

None of us are able to experience success without support along the way. Is there a particular person for whom you are grateful because of the support they gave you to grow you from “there to here?” Can you share that story and why you are grateful for them?

I am grateful for my husband because he has been around for many of the lowest parts of my life. He has also been around for many of the highs. But no matter where I’m at in my journey, he is always right by my side offering his support and encouragement.

He has shown me nothing but unconditional love and has allowed me the space and time necessary to heal from past traumas and to really explore what it means to be me. It is so difficult to raise a family when you’re still trying to figure yourself out but thankfully, I have the best partner in the world to GROW through the process with.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think it might help people?

I am currently working on co-authoring another book geared toward raising confident and compassionate kids in the digital era.

I won’t say too much about it just yet as it is still in the early stages, but I do believe this book will be extremely helpful for both parents and children navigating social media and communication online.

Ok, thank you for sharing your inspired life. Let’s now talk about feeling “unsatisfied”. In the Western world, humans typically have their shelter, food, and survival needs met. What has led to us feeling we aren’t enough and don’t have enough? What is the wiring? Or in other words, how has nature and nurture played into how humans (in an otherwise “safe and secure” environment) experience feeling less than, or a need to have more than what is needed for basic survival?

The US, where I’m from, is of course very capitalistic. From an early age, we are taught that money is one of the most important things in our lives. And oftentimes, society makes it seem like the amount of money you earn defines who you are as a person.

That said, many people spend most of their lives chasing money and status. The life experience then becomes more about making yourself look a certain way to others instead of showing gratitude for what you have NOW.

That lack of gratitude is really the answer as to why so many people are feeling unsatisfied. An ungrateful person will never feel satisfied, and many of us were not conditioned to prioritize gratitude.

How are societies different? For example, capitalistic societies trade differently than communists. Developed nations trade differently than developing nations. In your opinion, how does society shape a human’s experience and feelings of satisfaction?

As I mentioned previously, growing up in a capitalistic society has led to many of us allowing our net worth to define our self-worth. We are constantly trying to buy our way into feelings of satisfaction but it doesn’t work that way.

In countries where the communities are not so heavily focused on making money and spending money, there seems to be a greater sense of presence.

With a specific focus on brain function, how has the brain and its dominion over the body and beliefs been impacted by the societal construct?

The brain is always calculating risks and rewards and with the current societal construct and advancements allowing us to get our perceived rewards quicker and quicker, I think we are starting to make more impulsive decisions.

We are so hooked on instant gratification that we are spending less time really thinking things through. That need for instant gratification is also leading us to sacrifice our safety or well-being in the future for immediate rewards.

And once we receive that reward, we are left feeling unfulfilled again and are off to look for that next thing to give us that boost of dopamine.

When it comes to the concept of risks, the media can really make you feel like you are not enough if you are not living a certain lifestyle.

We look at these celebrities and influencers as a guide to what our own lives should look like, and we start to feel inadequate. Then the brain picks up on that and goes into overdrive trying to figure out how to make you feel better and less threatened. It’s trying to get you back to “safety” asap.

So you buy that overpriced pair of shoes that everyone else is buying. You upgrade to the latest iPhone. You stress yourself out trying to acquire all these material possessions in hopes that you will feel that sense of belonging.

With the rise of the internet and social media over the decades, we can really see how the concept of risk and reward is impacting people’s decision-making on a large scale.

Do you think the way our society markets and advertises goods and services, has affected people’s feelings of satisfaction? Can you explain what you mean?

I absolutely think the way our society markets and advertises goods and services has affected people’s feelings of satisfaction.

Obviously, they are tapping into areas where you are already feeling a sense of lack to get you to make a purchase decision. Even if you weren’t consciously aware that you were missing this thing in your life, the way they market it gets you to see that void and, simultaneously, how you can fill it.

They also market things in a way that makes you feel like your value will go up if you have that product or service.

How is the wiring of the brain, body, and beliefs shaped by marketing, language, and how humans trade?

Going back to the concept of rewards mentioned earlier, it is really the anticipation of receiving something that we enjoy most. Once we receive it, that excitement steadily goes down and we are on to the next thing.

Our interaction with the world around us helps us to decide what we would consider a reward and which rewards have the highest value in our lives.

With that being said, as long as we are comparing ourselves to others and what we see in the media, we will never truly feel fulfilled.

I work in marketing so I’m very cognizant of this question. In your opinion, how do you think marketing professionals can be more responsible for how their advertising shapes humans’ health and experience of happiness overall?

I think marketing should be tailored to be more empowering. Instead of basically telling people that they are less without this thing, show them how that thing helps them to bring out more of their best qualities.

For you personally, if you have all your basic needs met, do you feel you have enough in life?

With all of my basic needs met, I feel that I am safe and at peace. However, I really thrive on making an impact. I feel that my work is never done but I am fulfilled knowing that my basic needs are met and I am making a positive impact on the world around me.

Okay, fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview: Can you share with our readers your “5 things we can each do to address the feeling of not having enough.” Please share a story or example for each.

Yes! There is a lot I can say on this subject but I will sum it up.

1. I am always going to emphasize the importance of gratitude. When I was going through the toughest times in my life, I later realized that I wasn’t showing much gratitude for the things that were going well for me at that time. That would’ve had a profound effect on my overall experience.
2. Consider the gifts and talents you possess that can impact the world around you. When you see that you have something to offer, not just yourself, but others as well, you will start to realize how truly valuable you are.
3. Don’t pursue, ATTRACT. When you stop chasing and instead focus on being the type of person that has whatever it is you so deeply desire, your entire life will begin to change.
4. When you see other people with the things you desire, look at it as proof that you can have those things too. Say “thank you” because you know that manifestation is moving closer and closer to your own reality.
5. Fill your mind with empowering information. If you have to step away from social media, do it. If you have to avoid watching certain programs, do it. When you feel empowered, you feel more satisfied.

Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that have inspired you to live with more joy in life?

I have so many! I really enjoyed Tyler Perry’s book Higher is Waiting. I also really enjoyed Atomic Habits by James Clear.

I listen to lots of Les Brown, Neville Goddard, and Wayne Dyer content on Youtube as well.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I am so glad you asked this question!

I have always wanted to start my own “Happy Looks Good on You” Tour where basically I travel all over the globe with a team of people to bring a weekend-long event to major cities where we hold special seminars, musical performances, giveaways, etc. all geared towards connecting people with those feelings of joy.

I just want it to be a super joy-filled and empowering event. I would love to make that happen, and it is definitely on my bucket list!

What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?

You can find more of my work online at majorleaguemommy.com. You can also follow me on Instagram @majorleaguemommy. Lastly, you can find me on Linkedin here.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.

About The Interviewer: For 30 years, Drew Gerber has been inspiring those who want to change the world. Drew is the CEO of Wasabi Publicity, Inc., a full-service PR agency lauded by PR Week and Good Morning America. Wasabi Publicity, Inc. is a global marketing company that supports industry leaders, change agents, unconventional thinkers, companies and organizations that strive to make a difference. Whether it’s branding, traditional PR or social media marketing, every campaign is instilled with passion, creativity and brilliance to powerfully tell their clients’ story and amplify their intentions in the world.