The SelfWork Podcast

Today’s episode is focused on two very distinct listener appeals. One is a letter from an inmate within the Arkansas penal system who raped his oldest daughter. The second is a voicemail from a woman who was or is an alcoholic; that’s a little unclear. She was an irresponsible mother, and her oldest daughter became an alcoholic herself and died from that problem or the consequences of her addiction. They both express intense remorse over their actions or their lack of action. They are asking what they can do now. How do they live with themselves? How do they cope with the consequences of their action or inaction? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Finding your purpose. Is that easy? Hard? With the help of the highly-respected Dr. Terrence Roberts, Dr. Margaret repeats his question, "Why are you?" I was lucky enough to have a very special experience this past week. I heard Dr. Terrence Roberts, who was one of the Little Rock Nine, nine African-American students who had the courage to enter an all-white segregated school - Central High School - in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. They had police escorts, and I'm sure it took immense courage, resolve, and resilience. He spoke at the fall convention of the Arkansas Psychological Association. I expected him to talk about that experience. But that wasn't the message he wanted to convey. Instead, he asked us all this question: "Why are you?" How would you answer that question? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today, Dr. Margaret focuses on what "asking for help" in the context of mental health... actually means. So many will tell you that asking for help reflects weakeness. I’d like to challenge that thought. And I’ve got great help from the little book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. Here’s the quote itself: The Boy asks: “What is the bravest thing you’ve ever said?” The Horse answers: “Help.” The Horse adds: “Asking for help isn’t giving up. It’s refusing to give up.” Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today’s episode of SelfWork was suggested by the last episode of Ted Lasso, in which Rebecca talked about grief and the messy feelings it can bring with it. Rebecca tells Ted, "We laugh, we hurt, we fall, we get back up. We're a mess. And that is… fantastic. Because being messy just means being alive. And we could all do with being a bit more alive." Or… not. Some people fear this messiness – they much prefer staying in control. And I understand and respect that. And yet… if you’re one of those people, if you’ve never allowed yourself to feel all of what you can feel, I’d like to propose the idea that if fear is keeping you away those emotions, then that can become its own trap. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Dr. Margaret and her TEDx speech coach, Brian Miller, talk about challenging the fear of public speaking and the importance of human connection. "Go out and make a dent in the universe." These are the words I heard from Brian Miller, three years ago, weeks before I was to give my TEDxBocaRaton talk on perfectly hidden depression. Daring to face the fear of public speaking... But why did I ask Brian to be on SelfWork? Probably not many of you give actual speeches, although some of you might. You may make presentations at work. You may be helping your child with a project they're doing. You may be on a committee where you're leading people. Or you may avoid those things like the plague. But you don't have to be. You can go out and make a dent in your own universe. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands