Mark Wolynn

Teacher of Inherited Family Trauma and the Core Language Approach. Author of It Didn't Start With You @VikingBooks. Poet and Fender Stratocaster enthusiast.

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Many traumas that occur later in life…

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

For many of us…

[Inés Franklin, M.Div. @inesfranklin]

Interesting stuff! My daughter and I recorded our discussion on @MarkWolynn’s book “It Didn’t Start With You.” on #epigeneticresearch Listen to it here 👉🏽 What Secrets Are Hiding In Your Family Tree? https://t.co/O9Lrq9ZwOq #thejourneywesharepodcast

[Anooshka Soham Bathwal @anooshkabathwal]

Breaking Generational Cycles in Leadership & Life

I used to think self-growth was all about learning new skills—negotiation, decision-making, scaling a business.

Then I read ‘It Didn’t Start with You’ by Mark Wolynn
(@MarkWolynn) - it shifted my perspective.

We don’t just inherit eye colour or height. We inherit emotional patterns, fears, and behaviours—some that aren’t even ours.

It made me pause and ask:
🔹 What habits in my leadership, business, or personal life are truly mine?
🔹 And what patterns am I unknowingly carrying forward?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀

As an entrepreneur, I’ve always focused on strategy and execution. But what about the unconscious patterns that shape how we lead, take risks, or handle setbacks?

💡 Why do some leaders hesitate to scale—even when the numbers make sense?
💡 Why do others struggle with delegation, despite knowing it’s key for growth?

It’s not always logical.

Sometimes it’s inherited fear. Our emotional DNA—stress responses, limiting beliefs, even money habits—often come from past generations.

Are we making decisions with clarity, or through patterns we’ve never questioned?

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆

One idea that struck me was the Core Language Approach, where our words reveal deep fears.

𝗧𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝘆: "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 ____________."

That gut response?

It might not even be yours. It could be shaped by family, society, or history.

For instance:
🔹 If you thought, "losing control,"—do you lead with trust, or struggle to delegate?
🔹 If you thought, "failing publicly,"—do you take bold risks, or play safe when growth needs courage?

Breaking generational cycles isn’t just healing—it’s smart leadership.

𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗧𝗼𝗼

This book taught me something powerful:

📌 Trauma can be inherited, and it impacts how we build businesses and wealth.
📌 Awareness is power—because when you name a pattern, you can change it.
📌 Healing is strategic because better leaders build better companies.

Growth isn’t just about what we learn—it’s about what we unlearn.

Now I’m curious: What’s one belief, habit, or mindset you’ve consciously decided NOT to pass forward—in business or life? 👇

Share your thoughts below.

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Having a boundary isn’t about keeping others out as much as it is about keeping ourselves in.

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

In a study published in February, researchers examined war-related violence in three generations of Syrian refugees. They discovered an intergenerational epigenetic signature of violence embedded in the genome in all three generations.

https://t.co/yuUFaalHRr

[writingwithoutlimits @writingwolimits]

“It’s human nature: when pain is too great, people tend to avoid it. Yet when we block the feelings, we unknowingly stunt the necessary healing process that can lead us to a natural release.”

- @MarkWolynn ⚡️

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Men who experienced high levels of abuse in childhood had epigenetic changes in their sperm-specifically changes in DNA methylation & non-coding RNA levels. The researchers claim this is the largest & most comprehensive study conducted with humans so far.
https://t.co/WXoimvS0Eq

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Interesting study. Mice separated from their mothers after birth (for only four days) developed enhanced pain sensitivity and increased hyperventilation. These symptoms passed forward for two subsequent generations. https://t.co/NGykXyPy3L

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Yes, it's a deep dive.

[Christian Rodriguez @r_chris96]

Mas que leer, estudiar. 😍 ¡Que libro! 🙌🏻 @MarkWolynn

#estedolornoesmio #genetica #epigenetica #libro

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

I'm glad you're enjoying it, @Adry_Mtz_

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

I'm glad to hear you found the book meaningful, @merrylmz. I'd be happy to sign one for you one day.

[kadının teki. @merrylmz]

@MarkWolynn Hello Mark, I am a reader from Turkey. I am truly grateful to you for this book. I hope we have the opportunity to meet one day. And I can get you to sign your book and talk to you.
Loves from Turkey.
Meryem

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Our mother’s stress, even before we were conceived, can affect our microbiome.

https://t.co/DUBPlDcZfk

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Glad to be one of Oprah's Best Trauma Books for 2023
Link to list: https://t.co/IyS8ctMjNJ

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

I’m happy to see It Didn't Start With You on this list. Thank you, readers! Wishing you a wonderful 2023!
https://t.co/gjQBQtx5zm

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

A clear article explaining epigenetic inheritance....
https://t.co/qHE72rqk2I

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

I encourage you to read @DrGaborMate's new book (written with his son Daniel) called The Myth of Normal, in which he examines the root causes of illness and how we heal. It’s absolutely brilliant! https://t.co/pma1HVNPaY

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

I wish more authors were educated about inherited family trauma and treated it with the care that you do. I highly recommend What Jonah Knew. Get it here: https://t.co/Xad7rz4B9A

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Congratulations, @barbaragraham! It’s great to see your wonderful novel, What Jonah Knew, chosen as a Best Book of the Week by @people, and touted as a Best Book of Summer 2022 by @amazon.

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

He just told me the Turkish book has reached the highest sales numbers in the world!

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Thank you to Netflix and to the writers and producers of the Turkish series ANOTHER SELF for including my book IT DIDN’T START WITH YOU in several episodes.

[Mark Wolynn @MarkWolynn]

Thank you everybody for your kind comments about the book and the Netflix series. I want to send out a special thank you to Umut Kisa, the Turkish publisher Sola Unitas Yayınları, for working so hard to let people know about the book.