What is Brain Knows Better?
A daily-ish letter for people who feel everything and think too much.
If your mind is loud, tired, overwhelmed, or confused, I’m writing this for you.
Each post is a small check-in, the kind of note a dad tucks into your lunchbox on a day he knows might be tough.
No hacks. No pressure. No optimization.
Just a small reminder that you’re not alone in this and you’re strong enough to take one step forward.
When should you expect to hear from me?
Most days. Not every day, but more often than not.
I aim to show up in your inbox with something small yet meaningful. A story, a thought I’m still working out, a tiny experiment to try, or a deeper dive when something’s been living in my head.
But I’m a psychologist, a dad, and a husband, which means I’ll miss some days. That doesn’t mean I’ve disappeared, or don’t care, or forgot about you. It just means life got busy for a moment, and I’ll be back as soon as I can with something worthwhile.
Think of this less as a schedule to stick to and more as a person bringing the energy they have as often as they can.
Why subscribe?
If you’ve been feeling disconnected, stuck, or overwhelmed, you’ll find:
clarity without jargon
tiny actions that feel doable
stories that help things make sense
a kinder voice than the one in your head
a place where awkwardness is welcome
And little by little, we’ll work through things together.
Who is Brain Knows Better for?
Anyone who:
feels socially drained
wants connection but doesn’t know where to start
scrolls too much and feels worse for it
struggles with anxiety, shame, or a loud inner critic
thinks they should have it “together” by now but don’t
If you’re nodding along, you’re my people and I’m writing this for you.
Who am I?
I’m Dr. Ali Mattu, a psychologist, a dad, a husband, and someone who feels a lot, overthinks a lot, and cares a lot.
For 15 years, I’ve helped people navigate anxiety, overwhelm, and the disconnection that shapes modern life. I left traditional mental health care because too many people were slipping through the cracks.
Now I build tools for a world that’s fast, noisy, and lonely in ways it didn’t used to be. My YouTube videos have reached millions and led to my work appearing on Netflix, HBO, and The New York Times. But the thing I care about most is showing up here with you.
I write these letters because I need them too. Because the world is loud, the days are long, and most of us are carrying more than ever. This space is a way for us to find a way through together.
What does “Brain Knows Better” mean?
The name comes from a Death Cab for Cutie song I love, A Lack of Color, from the opening verse:
And when I see you
I really see you upside down
But my brain knows better
It picks you up and turns you around.
I’ve always loved that. Your eyes literally see the world upside down, and your brain quietly flips it for you, again and again, without you even noticing. It just makes things right.
Life is like that too.
Some days everything feels off, tilted, or inside out.
But your brain knows better.
It knows how to steady you, how to reorient you, how to turn things around.
Sometimes it just needs a nudge in the right direction.
I want this newsletter to be that nudge.
Want to reach me?
Leave a comment, hit reply on any post, or email me.
I read what you send, and I write back when I can.
This is a conversation, not a broadcast.
