Podcast Summary
Gracie Awards experience: Despite unease with awards ceremonies, the hosts attended to support a friend and raise awareness for breast health. They used the opportunity to advocate for self-advocacy and prioritize health for themselves and others.
Despite feeling uncomfortable with award ceremonies and the attention they bring, the hosts of the "We Can Do Hard Things" podcast attended the Gracie Awards to honor a friend's advocacy for breast health and raise awareness about the importance of further testing for women with dense breasts. The experience was meaningful for them, as they were surrounded by women making a difference in media. However, the hosts faced a challenge with their reactions to the cameras, leading to unflattering photos. Despite the discomfort, they saw the opportunity to use their platform to advocate for self-advocacy and prioritize one's health, emphasizing that it's not just about saving oneself but also those around us.
Self-advocacy in Health: Being informed and advocating for further testing can save lives. Clear communication and follow-up actions are essential when receiving important health information.
Self-advocacy is crucial, especially in matters of health. The speaker shared a personal story about how being informed about dense breasts and advocating for further testing saved her life and potentially the lives of those closest to her. She emphasized the importance of clear communication and necessary follow-up actions when receiving important health information. The speaker also expressed her frustration with the current system, which she feels does not provide enough guidance or motivation for individuals to take the next steps after receiving a density disclosure. She proposed an idea for aligning the incentives of medical and life insurance companies to encourage better health outcomes and more comprehensive care. Additionally, she touched on the topic of loneliness and invited listeners to tune in to their new podcast, The Golden Girls Deep Dive Podcast, for discussions on this and other themes explored in the beloved sitcom.
Complexity of loneliness: Loneliness is a complex emotion that can stem from a lack of connection or feeling unseen in relationships, even with a full social circle. It's a natural longing for connection and merging with others, and embracing this perspective can help us understand and accept our feelings.
Loneliness is a complex emotion that goes beyond just the absence of relationships or people. It can stem from a lack of connection or feeling unseen in existing relationships. Some people may feel lonely even with a full social circle, while others may feel it acutely in isolation. Lauren and Glenn shared their personal experiences of loneliness and how they've worked to improve their relationships with themselves and others. They emphasized that everyone experiences loneliness in some form, regardless of their circumstances. The quality of our connections with others is crucial to the quality of our lives, but we are all born alone inside our own skin. Instead of viewing loneliness as a sign of something wrong, it can be seen as a natural longing for connection and merging with others, much like hunger or thirst. Embracing this perspective can help us understand and accept our feelings of loneliness as a part of the human experience.
Barriers to Connection: In the first half of life, we build barriers for protection, but in the second half, we should strive to remove them for genuine connections, while being mindful not to force it.
Humans have an inherent desire to connect, but we often build barriers that prevent us from doing so. These barriers can be coping mechanisms learned throughout our lives. The first half of life is about protecting ourselves and building these defenses, while the second half is about removing them to allow for genuine connection. However, trying to force connection through wellness practices or other methods may not always be effective, as the feeling of loneliness is a persistent longing that cannot be easily quenched. The use of drugs can provide fleeting moments of transcendence and connection, but ultimately, they are not a sustainable solution and can lead to further isolation. The goal should be to seek authentic connections while being mindful of the protective mechanisms that may be hindering us.
Loneliness and self-worth: Supporting and uplifting each other is crucial to lessen feelings of loneliness and improve self-worth, rather than tearing each other down.
Loneliness is a complex human condition that cannot be solely solved through relationships. While relationships can provide connection and lessen feelings of loneliness, they do not eliminate it entirely. Additionally, the way we treat and perceive women, including the fear of making them feel "too good" about themselves, can negatively impact their self-worth and contribute to a culture of self-deprecation. It's essential to recognize the importance of supporting and uplifting each other, rather than tearing each other down. Ultimately, the human condition of loneliness is a part of life, and it's crucial to work on personal growth and self-acceptance to find fulfillment and connection within ourselves and the world around us.
Family messages and self-perception: Family messages during childhood can shape our self-perception and impact our ability to receive praise and celebrate others' successes. It's essential to recognize and address these feelings to overcome self-imposed limitations.
The messages we receive from our families during our formative years can significantly impact how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. A mother's protective instincts, while well-intended, can limit a child's confidence and ability to receive praise. This can lead to discomfort when others receive accolades and a subconscious desire to control or deny their own experiences of success. It's essential to recognize and address these feelings, as they can stem from deep-rooted beliefs instilled in us by our upbringing. Additionally, it's crucial to learn how to celebrate others' achievements and find ways to shift our mindset, as this can ultimately help us overcome our own self-imposed limitations.
Jealousy transformation: Transform jealousy into admiration by acknowledging others' achievements and expressing appreciation, fostering connections and healing opportunities
Jealousy can be transformed into admiration by acknowledging and expressing appreciation for others' achievements, rather than dwelling on feelings of powerlessness. This shift in perspective can help alleviate the pain of jealousy and even foster connections between individuals. Additionally, the speaker suggests that this mindset might be more prevalent among younger generations, while older generations may have been raised to suppress their feelings. The speaker also encourages acknowledging and grieving past experiences of not being seen or celebrated, rather than berating oneself for feeling jealous or lonely. Ultimately, these uncomfortable feelings can serve as opportunities for healing and growth, rather than signs of personal deficiency.
Supporting podcasts: Supporting podcasts is easy and essential. Hit 'follow', leave ratings & reviews, and share episodes to help them thrive and grow the industry.
Supporting your favorite podcasts is easy and essential. You can do this by hitting the "follow" button on platforms like Spotify or Odyssey, and if you're feeling extra generous, leaving a five-star rating and review. Sharing an episode you loved with a friend is another great way to help spread the word. "We Can Do Hard Things," hosted by Glennon Doyle, Avi Wambach, and Amanda Doyle, is an example of a podcast that would greatly benefit from your support. The show, produced by Jenna Wise-Burman, Lauren Lograsso, Allison Schott, Dina Kleiner, and Bill Schultz, brings valuable content to its listeners, and your actions can help ensure it continues to do so. By taking these simple steps, you're not only helping your favorite podcasts thrive, but you're also contributing to the growth of the podcasting industry as a whole.