What Does It Really Mean to Be Mentally Healthy?
In today’s fast-paced world, we talk about mental health more than ever—but are we asking the right questions? In Watching Mental Health: Season 2, Episode 4, host Katie Waechter sits down with Zahra Karsan, CEO, success coach, and creator of the R.E.W.I.R.E. System™, to unpack what it really means to feel well, happy, and whole.
Instead of approaching mental health as a disorder to be treated, Zahra reminds us that happiness, success, and emotional well-being are not separate pursuits—they are interdependent.
“We don’t get an instruction manual on how to be a happy, healthy, wealthy human,” she shares. “So we sprint through life, tightly wound, exhausted, and calling that success.”
Mental health, then, is the foundation. It’s the how behind what it means to thrive, not just survive.
Introducing the R.E.W.I.R.E. Mindset System™
A 6-Week Framework for Mental Reprogramming
Zahra developed the R.E.W.I.R.E. System™ after her own experience with chronic stress and burnout as a high-performing corporate consultant. This six-week system blends neuroscience, positive psychology, and real-life tools to help individuals shift from survival mode to intentional living.
Each letter in R.E.W.I.R.E. represents a phase of transformation:
R – Relax and Quiet the Mind
E – Eliminate the Noise
W – Who Are You?
I – Imagine the Life You Want
R – Rewire for Empowerment
E – Elevate and Sustain
By investing just 15 minutes a day over six weeks, users learn to realign their thoughts, behaviors, and routines to support optimal health and happiness.
Is Happiness Measurable? The Neuroscience Behind Joy
Happiness isn’t just an emotion—it’s chemical. Zahra discusses how the brain’s neurotransmitters—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins—affect mood, resilience, and energy levels. Using tools that promote mindfulness, movement, connection, and purpose, individuals can boost these natural “feel-good” chemicals.
“The dopamine doesn’t come from the cake, it comes from the act of walking to the kitchen in anticipation of the ‘reward’ That’s where the power lies.”
Feeling Hopeless? You’re Not Alone—And There Is a Way Forward
One of the most powerful takeaways from this episode is Zahra’s message to those struggling with depression or anxiety: You are not broken. You are human.
She reminds listeners that what often looks like hopelessness is a signal that their needs—emotional, social, physical, spiritual—aren’t being met. But with the right tools, a better baseline of happiness and vitality is absolutely possible.
“We are 5% conscious and 95% subconscious. Once you shift the subconscious patterns, everything else follows”.
Take the First Step
Start with Zahra’s free Life Block Quiz to uncover the subconscious patterns holding you back. Then dive into her book, Six Weeks to Happy, and explore coaching opportunities to go deeper.
Whether you’re navigating burnout, reinventing your life, or simply seeking more joy, this episode offers a compelling reminder: you can change the way you feel—and it doesn’t take a lifetime to do it.
