Optimal Relationships Daily - Dating, Marriage and Parenting 2783: What Lies Underneath Worry by Margo Aaron of That Seems Important on Understanding the Root of Anxiety
9 snips
Nov 1, 2025 Margo Aaron reveals that worry often serves as a defense mechanism, masking deeper feelings like grief and shame. She shares insights from a conversation that highlights how projecting concern onto others can deflect our own pain. Delving into the cultural legacy of fear, she underscores the importance of self-reflection. Margo challenges listeners to confront their own triggers rather than simply offering sympathy, inviting a deeper understanding of emotions. It's a powerful reminder that acknowledging feelings is crucial for personal growth.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Worry Masks Deeper Emotions
- Worry functions as a secondary emotion that helps us avoid deeper feelings like grief, shame, and helplessness.
- Recognizing feelings as data lets you acknowledge them without acting on the avoidance pattern.
Friend's Worry Revealed Projection
- Margo sat with an old friend who told her he was worried about her after reading her piece on work and meaning.
- She realized his worry was projection: he resisted confronting his own resentments and choices.
Denial Lets Feelings Grow
- Denying emotions causes them to grow larger and distort behavior.
- Emotions are useful signals and need only acknowledgment to be processed.