The Verywell Mind Podcast

Whether you say, “That chicken was too spicy,” or “The presentation was awful,” you might have strong judgments about the things around you. And while you’re entitled to your opinion, there are ways to experience opinions without being too judgmental.Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that your opinion isn’t a fact, however. Just because you thought a movie was great doesn’t mean everyone else in the family will like it. And your opinion isn’t any more or less true than anyone else’s.It’s simply a matter of taste.The way you experience and express your opinions can make a big difference to your mental health. It can also affect your social interactions.Fortunately, we can all learn to be less judgmental. Learning how to be less judgmental of the events and people around you will also help you be less harsh on yourself. While it does take practice to change the way you think, it’s something all of us can do. So on this Friday Fix episode, I share how a slight change in the way you word things can make a big difference in your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kindra Hall is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author and an award-winning storyteller. She’s also the chief storytelling officer at Success magazine.Her newest book, Choose Your Story, Change Your Life, is a self-help book that teaches readers how to shift their narrative in a healthy way. Some of the things Kindra talks about on the show are how to choose a different version of the stories you tell yourself, how changing your stories could change the entire path of your life, and how to proactively start telling yourself more helpful stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While some people say you should always give others the ‘benefit of the doubt,’ other people say doing so means you let people take advantage of you. After all, not everyone has good intentions. But assuming the best in others doesn’t have to come at your own expense. In fact, you can still assume other people are doing their best while also establishing clear boundaries with them. There’s a surprising upside of assuming the best in others; it actually lowers your stress level. But it takes some practice. You might find yourself jumping to conclusions that assume bad intentions automatically. You’ll have to put in some effort to start assuming the best in others.So on today’s Friday Fix, I explain why it’s healthy to assume the best in others, how to do it, and how to establish healthy boundaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erica is a self-described recovering alcoholic who chose to become a certified drug and alcohol counselor. When she stopped drinking, she learned that she needed to learn some new skills to aid her recovery.She’s written several books including, Rewired: A Bold New Approach to Addiction & Recovery. In it, she explains how people can rewire their brains, change their behavior, and create positive changes in their lives.Some of the things Erica talks about on the show are what most people don't understand about addiction, the skills that aid in recovery, and how to address behavioral addictions like gambling or pornography as well as substance abuse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s normal to want to be liked and accepted. But if taken too far, you could become a people-pleaser. People-pleasing can become a chronic habit that is tough to break. You might say yes to things you don’t want to do to prevent someone from getting angry. Or you might say what you think people want to hear so that you’ll fit in with those around you.If you’ve been a lifelong people-pleaser, it’s tough to stand up for yourself and express your true opinions.But it’s important to do so. Being able to be yourself is key to good mental health. It may also be key to helping you reach your goals.Fortunately, you can start with one small step at a time.In this episode of the Friday Fix, I share how you can start to break free from people-pleasing habits. I explain why people become people-pleasers, the downsides of trying to make people happy, and the steps you can take to start taking care of your own needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mariel Buquè is a Columbia University-trained psychologist and sound bath meditation healer. She specializes in helping people heal wounds that stem from intergenerational trauma.Some of the things she talks about on today's episode are how trauma can be passed down from one generation to the next, the five things that can happen when you experience intergenerational trauma, and the strategies that can stop the cycle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To say it’s been a strange year sounds like an understatement. There were lots of ups and downs in terms of public health, the economy, and the re-opening of many businesses.And while there was a lot of talk in the past about “things returning to normal,” this year made it clear that things likely won’t go back to the way they used to be. Instead, we’ll be establishing a new normal.Throughout all the highs and lows, we were thrilled to be able to bring you The Verywell Mind Podcast. We’re thankful to all of our guests who took time out of their lives to share their stories and offer their best mental strength-building strategies on the show. We’ve talked to experts, authors, celebrities, athletes, and musicians about the steps they take to stay mentally strong.I also appreciate the opportunity to share my favorite tips with you on each Friday Fix episode. As a therapist, I’m used to speaking with people one-on-one in my therapy office. Being able to create content for a worldwide audience is an amazing experience. And most of all, we’re grateful to all of you who tuned in, left us reviews, and sent us messages about our content.It’s been fun to look back at which episodes you gravitated toward the most over the past year. So here’s our year-in-review of the show as we take a look at our most popular episodes of 2021! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you struggle to reach your goals, you might be tempted to blame it on a lack of self-discipline or too many obstacles that stood in your way. But, there’s a chance the problem wasn’t a character flaw or even an environmental issue. Instead, the problem might have been the goal itself.If you don’t establish a clear, helpful goal in the beginning, you’ll set yourself up for failure.Whether you want to get in better shape, pay off your debt, become a happier person, or launch your own business, start with a good goal. The way you word that goal makes a huge difference.In today’s Friday Fix, I explain how to avoid the most common goal setting mistakes I see as a therapist. And I’ll help you craft a goal that increases your chances of success.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Skyh Black spent much of his life dancing. In fact, he used to be a backup dancer for superstars like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Rihanna. But a few years ago, he decided he wanted to become an actor. He took a break from dancing and put all his energy into launching an acting career—which meant he became homeless for a bit.He took acting classes, and with a lot of hard work, started landing roles in movies and on television. Some of his recent TV shows include Sistas, All the Queen’s Men, and Lace.But he realized that when he's acting, he can finally safely express his emotions (behind a character). And it made him realize how hiding his feelings for most of his life has affected him.Some of the things he's talking about today are what he learned about feelings in acting classes, the strategies he's now using to manage his mental health, and the warning signs that he needs to take better care of himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I thought it would be fun to answer your questions on The Verywell Mind Podcast this week. I put out the call on social media to ask me anything you want. And you certainly answered!It’s been fun sifting through your questions and hearing your comments. To my surprise, the vast majority of your questions centered around one thing — relationship issues. And most of them weren’t contained to romantic relationships.Instead, you wanted to know how to set better boundaries, how to deal with people who don’t meet your expectations, and how to address communication difficulties. So these are some of the things we talk about on today’s show. They’re great questions because the people around you affect your mental strength. And while you can’t change other people, you can certainly influence them. You can also choose how you respond to them.If I didn’t answer your question today, stay tuned. I titled this episode "Part 1" because I suspect we’ll be doing more "Ask Me Anything" episodes in the future.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices