Self-Esteem Culture, Therapy Culture, and the Case for Wholeness in Christ
The Best of You
What Prompted Free of Me
Alison asks Sharon about the season that led her to write Free of Me and Sharon begins sharing her story.
When insecurity takes over, most of us double down on self-improvement. But what if freedom doesn’t come from focusing more on yourself - but less?
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Alison and author of Free of Me and Gazing at God, Sharon Hodde Miller, discuss the promises and pitfalls of self-esteem culture - and why a bigger story of belovedness, stewardship, and connection sets us free. We talk about how self-preoccupation doesn’t improve self-esteem, why “just love yourself more” can reinforce the problem, and how beholding God (not abandoning yourself) recenters your life with humility and purpose.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why self-focus can erode your confidence and joy
- The difference between self-esteem and self-preoccupation
- What it means to de-center yourself without losing your worth
- How wounds can masquerade as pride or insecurity
- The freedom that comes from remembering: you are not the hero of the story
Get your hands on a copy of Sharon's books! You can find them here:
📚Free of Me: Why Life Is Better When It's Not about You
📚Gazing at God: A 40-Day Journey to Greater Freedom from Self
Here are some other episodes you might like :
Episode 99: I Shouldn’t Feel Like My Spirit is Broken
Episode 67: The Inextricable Link Between Faith & Emotional Healing with Cindy Gao
📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here
💬 Got a question? Call 307-429-2525 and leave a message for a future episode.
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While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.
© 2025 Alison Cook. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Please do not copy or share the contents of this webpage or transcript without permission from the author.
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