The Feeling Fallacy
Wed Feb 04 2026
Most patients believe one simple lie.
If I feel fine… I must be fine.
Sounds harmless.
It’s not.
It’s the reason they:• cancel early• disappear when pain settles• only come back when things flare up
I call it The Feeling Fallacy.
The idea that feelings = function.
But pain is a smoke alarm. Not a performance report.
And here’s the kicker:
Explaining this doesn’t work.
More words don’t change beliefs. Experience does.
In this episode, I break down how to:
• name the “Feeling Fallacy” so patients instantly get it• stop using abstract language like “optimal function”• pre-frame findings before they feel them• use simple tests (ROM, balance, posture) to show deficits, not describe them• turn relapse into a teaching moment that builds long-term buy-in
No clever lines. No scripts. No philosophy lectures.
Just small framing shifts you can use tomorrow morning that help patients move from:
Pain → Prevention → Performance.
Because the best time to get adjusted…
…is when you already feel good.
To learn more about Aligned Practice
https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/products/communities/aligned-practice
Check out the Retention Recipe https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/retention-recipe-2-0
To learn more about Reactivate to Accelerate
https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/reactivate
Learn more about Daily Visit Communication 2.0
https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/daily-visit
Email me - martin@insideoutpractices.com
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Most patients believe one simple lie. If I feel fine… I must be fine. Sounds harmless. It’s not. It’s the reason they:• cancel early• disappear when pain settles• only come back when things flare up I call it The Feeling Fallacy. The idea that feelings = function. But pain is a smoke alarm. Not a performance report. And here’s the kicker: Explaining this doesn’t work. More words don’t change beliefs. Experience does. In this episode, I break down how to: • name the “Feeling Fallacy” so patients instantly get it• stop using abstract language like “optimal function”• pre-frame findings before they feel them• use simple tests (ROM, balance, posture) to show deficits, not describe them• turn relapse into a teaching moment that builds long-term buy-in No clever lines. No scripts. No philosophy lectures. Just small framing shifts you can use tomorrow morning that help patients move from: Pain → Prevention → Performance. Because the best time to get adjusted… …is when you already feel good. To learn more about Aligned Practice https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/products/communities/aligned-practice Check out the Retention Recipe https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/retention-recipe-2-0 To learn more about Reactivate to Accelerate https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/reactivate Learn more about Daily Visit Communication 2.0 https://insideoutpractices.thinkific.com/courses/daily-visit Email me - martin@insideoutpractices.com