171 From Darkness to Light with Melissa Bernstein

On paper, some people seem to have a perfect life – a loving spouse, healthy happy kids, a successful career, a comfortable home – and yet they struggle with crippling anxiety or depression. I'm sure some of you can relate. I know I can. My guest today has experienced this as well and has made it her mission, her purpose, to help others navigate their emotions and sensitivities in order to truly be happy and thrive. Stick around and hear Melissa Bernstein of Melissa & Doug fame talk about:

• Why she never felt like she fit in with this world
• Her thoughts about suicide and how she coped with existential depression
• The impact it had on her to not fully accept who she truly was
• How inner darkness fueled her creativity
• How she made a shift from this dark place and turned her life around
• Her new passion project, the entirely free ecosystem that she and her husband Doug have created, Lifelines, to support people, show them they're not alone, and help them find meaning in their lives

You do NOT want to miss this episode!

About Melissa Bernstein

Melissa Bernstein, along with her husband Doug, is the Co-Founder of the toy company Melissa & Doug, which has created over 5,000 children's products and sold billions of dollars of toys since its inception. Raised by educators, Melissa and Doug started the business in their garage in 1988, and they've been on a mission ever since to provide open-ended, inventive, non-technology playthings for young children. Throughout Melissa's remarkable career, she kept secret her lifelong battle with severe depression and anxiety. She reveals her struggles in LifeLines, her first book, which she wrote to help others who are also suffering. Melissa's book heralds the launch of LifeLines.com, an online ecosystem she and Doug are underwriting to support those seeking support, guidance, and community on their mental health journeys. Melissa lives in Connecticut with Doug and their six children.

To learn more about LifeLines, please go to: https://lifelines.com/

You can reach Melissa directly at melissabernstein@lifelines.com

Melissa talks about the profound impact Viktor Frankl's book, Man's Search for Meaning, had upon her. You can get a copy here (https://amzn.to/2WvN5wU).

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