Owen O'Kane, a psychotherapist and former NHS Mental Health Lead, shares his journey from struggling with identity in Northern Ireland to becoming an advocate for mental wellness. He discusses the importance of self-care and therapy in overcoming negative thoughts. Owen emphasizes embracing emotions for personal growth, highlights the disconnection between external success and internal satisfaction, and reflects on key life lessons learned in palliative care. His insights encourage listeners to prioritize mental health and pursue deeper fulfillment in life.
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A Promise of Improvement
If you struggle with stress, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed, listen to this podcast with an open mind.
By reflecting on Owen O'Kane's insights, you can improve your life and get closer to high performance.
insights INSIGHT
Redefining High Performance
High performance is not just about achieving and succeeding.
It's about aligning actions with values and finding internal steadiness, not external validation.
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Internal vs. External Validation
Avoid seeking external validation for happiness.
Focus on internal satisfaction; external achievements rarely fulfill internal needs.
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In 'They F*** You Up', Oliver James argues that the way we are cared for in the first six years of life significantly influences our personality and behavior as adults. He emphasizes the role of nurture over nature, suggesting that parenting styles and early life experiences are crucial in forming our adult selves. The book challenges genetic determinism and offers insights into how early trauma can affect future relationships and mental health.
How to Be Your Own Therapist
Owen O'Kane
In 'How to Be Your Own Therapist', Owen O'Kane offers empowering solutions to managing stress and anxiety by using techniques from CBT, mindfulness, and interpersonal therapy. The book provides simple, understandable methods to form healthier perspectives and ditch harmful thought patterns, making it accessible for anyone seeking better mental health.
A new guide to rational living
Albert Ellis
The Power of Now
A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
Eckhart Tolle
In 'The Power of Now', Eckhart Tolle discusses the importance of living in the present moment to achieve spiritual enlightenment. The book draws from various spiritual traditions, including Buddhism and mysticism, to explain how people's emotional problems are rooted in their identification with their minds. Tolle argues that the present moment is the only truly real time and that past and future are mere mental constructs. He provides methods for relaxation and meditation to help readers anchor themselves in the present, such as avoiding multitasking, spending time in nature, and letting go of worries about the future. The book also introduces concepts like the 'pain-body' and the distinction between one's thoughts and true self, emphasizing the need to recognize and separate from the destructive influence of the mind[2][4][5].
Owen O’Kane is a psychotherapist, former NHS Mental Health Lead and author of the best-selling book, How To Be Your Own Therapist. Owen grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, he struggled to accept his sexuality as a gay man - once even trying to be 'healed' of his homosexuality during a visit to Lourdes. He has had a varied career, from training to be a priest, to working in palliative care - this is reflected in Owen’s open and well-rounded understanding of humanity.
In this powerful episode Jake and Damian open up about their own worries, fears and negative thoughts. Owen takes them through how to tackle the noise in their mind and escape the ‘overthinking trap’. His key message is how important therapy can be and how we should all be trying to make ourselves happier.
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