PsycHacks

Many of the issues folks struggle with today have their origins in the distant past in their families of origin. At that time, children unconsciously adopted coping strategies and defense mechanisms in order to face their circumstances, most of which were outside of their control. Their suffering was generally not their fault. However, now that these same folks are grown up, it is their responsibility to address. Why? Because they are the only ones with the ability to respond to the wounding.

The aperture through which we view a problem is very important. If it's too large, we are subject to becoming overwhelmed, which frustrates constructive action. Rather than attempt to plan out all of the steps to a goal that can take months or years to achieve, focus on the making the next right move. What can you do today to move the ball further down the field? By limiting yourself to what is immediately available, you will be more likely to take action, which will accelerate progress toward your goal.

The critical inner voice is a phenomenon that most of us experience from time to time; however, it can be incessantly cruel in the case of depressives. The critical inner voice is generally understood to be an introject of a parent's perceived negative attitudes toward the child. With this in mind, the first step toward mitigating the effect of this voice is to make it ego-alien, to consider it as something that's in you, but not of you.

Many of the folks I speak to are dissatisfied, despite having a job, a relationship, and a decent standard of living. Most often, the source of this dissatisfaction is the gnawing suspicion that they could do better. That said, many worry about letting go of a decent option, because they simultaneously fear that they won't. In this episode, I discuss my mantra for resisting the urge to settle: if you can do it once, you can do it twice.

Focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems. Learn how this skill can distinguish you as an exceptional individual.

Exploring the concept of focusing on the process over desired outcomes, the podcast delves into teachings from the Bhagavad Gita. It highlights the importance of releasing expectations to find empowerment and contentment, warning against bitterness when results don't align with expectations.

As a therapist, I occasionally hear people balk at the cost of therapy. However, the alternative can be significantly more expensive. On average, Americans wait ten years to contact a therapist about an emotional or psychological problem. This is an extraordinarily long time to potentially suffer unnecessarily. How much would you pay to make your problem disappear? That value is actually your budget for solving the problem.

"Why am I here? And what should I do with my life? What's the point of all of this?" These existential questions lie at the heart of the human experience. While I can't offer definitive answers, in this podcast I offer one possible way to approach the meaning of life, namely: life is like Disneyland. The point of Disneyland is to experience Disneyland. Likewise, the point of life is to experience life. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to do it. You get your day in the park, and then you go home with good memories.

Learn the three keys to getting what you want in life: knowing what you want, being patient, and acting without hesitation. Find out how to achieve success by clarifying your desires, waiting for the right opportunity, and making decisive moves.

Discover the effective use of Serial 7s, a cognitive technique that disrupts unwanted thoughts and prevents negative emotions. Learn how this method refreshes the mind quickly and discreetly by engaging in mental subtraction tasks.