834. THIS Is the Most Underrated Tool for Your Mental Health
Almost 30
Emotion Wheel & Naming Feelings Lowers Amygdala
Tara explains using an emotion wheel to expand vocabulary and how labeling calms fear responses.
In this episode, Krista sits down with bestselling author Tara Schuster to talk about what healing really looks like behind the scenes. Tara shares how journaling became the foundation of her mental health, why retreats can activate insecurity + comparison, and how inner child work actually shows up in daily life—not just therapy sessions.
Ahead, find out why real self-compassion requires more courage than most people expect. Tara also opens up about leaving unhealthy relationships, navigating modern dating without losing yourself, and learning to trust your own inner authority instead of viral advice.
This conversation is an honest, practical reminder that growth isn’t aesthetic or linear—but it is available to you. If you’re moving through a breakup, identity shift, or season of reinvention, this episode offers grounded tools + permission to choose yourself, again and again.
We also talk about:
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How IFS therapy helps you understand your inner parts + emotional patterns
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Tara’s daily mental health rituals + why ritual works differently than habit
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Specific journaling practices proven to build resilience + reduce anxiety
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Healing the “inner popular girl” + letting go of comparison + self-judgment
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What it really takes to leave toxic relationships + reclaim self-worth
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Compassion for men, modern dating dynamics, and rewriting unhealthy narratives
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Why celebrating small wins is essential for long-term self-trust
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The downside of viral dating advice—and how to reconnect with your intuition
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Creating meaningful rituals without spending money or following trends
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Why “effortless healing” is a myth—and what real transformation actually demands
Resources:
- Instagram: @taraschuster
- Substack: @taraschuster
- Website: taraschuster.com
- This Journal F*cking Works Purchase Link
- Order our book, Almost 30: A Definitive Guide To A Life You Love For The Next Decade and Beyond, here: https://bit.ly/Almost30Book.
Sponsors:
BetterHelp | This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/almost30 and get on your way to being your best self with 10% off your first month.
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Podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: almost30.com/disclaimer.
Almost 30 is edited by Garett Symes and Isabella Vaccaro.
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