Self Compassion
9 episodes tagged "Self Compassion".
How Social Media Traps Us In Comparison!
"Stop Comparing, Start Winning" Comparison is the thief of joy—and social media is its getaway driver. I see recovery influencers with book deals, massive platforms, and perfect lighting… and here I am, 36, finishing school, making a podcast in my office. But here’s the truth—5 years ago I was living in my truck, drinking my last $20 instead of buying gas. Today, I’m sober, stable, and building a life. That’s winning. That’s warrior status. Stop looking at someone else’s highlight reel and discounting your own progress. Give yourself the grace you deserve—you’ve already come farther than you think.
Your Brain Loves to Trick You!
"Your Brain Is Not the Boss of You" Cognitive distortions are basically your brain’s way of running PR for your inner critic. It’s got a PhD in twisting reality and turning you into the villain of your own story. You snap at your kid once? Suddenly, you’re the worst dad on Earth. Missed your 20-minute meditation? Guess what—your brain says you’re a fraud. Here’s the truth: you’re not a fake, you’re human. Mistakes aren’t proof you’re failing—they’re opportunities to learn, make amends, and grow. Stop letting your brain write horror fan fiction about your life. You’re doing better than you think.
Why You Should Stop Being So Hard On Yourself!
🔥 Imposter Syndrome Doesn’t Pay Rent — So Evict It. 🔥 That voice in your head saying you don’t belong? Yeah… it’s full of it. Whether it’s in AA, at work, or in your personal life, imposter syndrome thrives on you staying silent and beating yourself up for being human. In this Sober Psychology episode, I’m breaking down how to tell imposter syndrome to F off — backed by science. We’ll talk about why self-compassion (yes, the thing that sounds like yoga fluff) can slash those fraud feelings by 25% — Frontiers in Psychology proved it in 2021 — and how journaling your wins literally reprograms your brain to stop lying to you. 💡 Here’s your 4-step fight plan: 1️⃣ Call out your brain’s BS — write down your “fraud” moments and fact-check them. 2️⃣ Journal your wins — science says it works. 3️⃣ Show up anyway — nobody’s keeping score but you. 4️⃣ Practice self-compassion — stop punching yourself in the face for being human. Bottom line: You’re not a fraud. You’re proof that progress works — and the more you track it, the harder it is for your brain to deny it.
Why You Don’t Need To Be Perfect!
🎯 “Imposter syndrome is a liar, a thief, and a total buzzkill.” Let’s wrap this up with a truth bomb: That voice in your head telling you you’re not enough? It’s full of it. Whether you’re battling addiction, crushing your career, or just trying to survive another Monday without losing it — imposter syndrome does not get to write your story. You’re not here by accident. You’re here because you showed up. Period. The Big Book says “progress, not perfection.” Science says up to 70% of people deal with imposter syndrome. Even the ones who seem to have it all together. So if you’re waiting until you “feel” worthy — stop. Feelings aren’t facts. 🧠 Homework time: Write down one thing you did well this week. Anything. Then tell someone about it. Out loud. And when that inner critic shows up? Laugh. Literally laugh. That’s just your brain throwing a tantrum because you’re finally winning. If you’re working on loving others and learning to love yourself — you’re doing okay. 👏 Keep going. You belong here.
How Stress Eats Up Your Brain Power Fast
💥 Cognitive Overload: Why You’re Too Fried to Function 🧠 Ever stare blankly at your fridge and end up DoorDashing garbage again? Yeah — that’s not just laziness. That’s cognitive load theory in action. Every tiny choice you make eats away at your mental bandwidth — and by the end of the day, you're toast. 🧪 A 2018 study in PNAS showed that decision fatigue spikes when you're stressed, making you impulsive (hello $200 jacket) or avoidant ("let’s just not decide at all"). And if you’re rocking an ADHD brain? Buckle up. A 2021 study in Journal of Attention Disorders found ADHD folks are more prone to decision fatigue — even small choices feel like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops. 🔄 OCD turns this into a prison: You’re not deciding — you’re spiraling. A 2020 Psychiatry Research study showed OCD patients take much longer to choose because they’re terrified of picking “wrong,” which only feeds the anxiety monster. So what do we do about it? 👉 Limit options 👉 Set time limits 👉 Accept “good enough” 👉 Practice self-compassion — especially if your brain’s wired differently You’re not broken. You’re overloaded. Stop blaming yourself for being exhausted from the mental gymnastics of daily life.
Why Regret Is Actually Good For You!
🔥 The Burden of Choice Is a Bitch — Let’s Talk About It 🧠 Every decision you make? It costs something. That’s the game. You don’t just “pick the wrong partner” — you pick a path, and with that, you leave another one behind. But here's the truth bomb: regret is part of living. A 2018 study in Emotion found that accepting regret as a natural part of decision-making actually reduces its sting. You don’t need to love every choice you make — you just need to own it, learn from it, and keep going. This hits especially hard if you’re neurodivergent: 🔹 ADHD = impulsive choices → regret spirals 🔹 OCD = “what if” loops → analysis paralysis 🔹 Autism = change can feel like catastrophe So here’s the real tip: practice self-compassion. You’re not failing — you’re learning. Always. ⚠️ Indecision isn’t safety. It’s just failure with a nicer outfit. Stop letting fear pick your path. You’re stronger than your hesitation — and yeah, I had to learn that one the hard way. Your life’s not a test. There’s no perfect score. Choose, grow, repeat. You’ve got this.
The Easy Way To Say Sorry And Mean It
🧠 How To Be Accountable Without Losing Your Mind Let’s be real: most of you would rather walk barefoot across Legos than admit you screwed up. But accountability isn't a death sentence — it's your way out of the chaos. So let’s fix it, step by step. Step 1: Admit you messed up. It’s not rocket science, but your ego makes it feel like open-heart surgery. A 2022 study in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that self-compassion — being kind to yourself while owning your crap — makes accountability actually doable. Say: “I screwed this up, but I’m not a total failure.” And then move forward. That’s growth. Step 2: Apologize like you mean it. Not “I’m sorry you felt that way” — that’s just blame wearing a fake mustache. Own it. Try: 👉 “I messed up, and here’s how I’ll make it right.” That’s called an amends. It's not just an apology — it's an action plan. A 2018 study in Negotiation and Conflict Management Research found that action-based apologies rebuild trust way faster. Why? Because talk is cheap. Do better. So no more performative “oopsies.” Clean up your mess, drop the ego, and rebuild like a grown-ass adult. 👇 What’s the last thing you owned up to — and how did you fix it?
How To Actually Get Your Life Together Fast
🎯 Accountability Isn’t Punishment — It’s Power. Own It. Let’s get one thing straight: accountability isn’t some shame parade. It’s not about beating yourself up for screwing up — it’s about taking the wheel back. You want real change? Then stop treating your mistakes like life sentences and start treating them like lessons. In this follow-up to our kick-in-the-teeth episode on owning your crap, I’m giving you the 3 steps to actually getting your life together (without sounding like a Pinterest quote): 1️⃣ Admit You Screwed Up No fluff. No filters. According to a 2022 study in the Journal of Applied Psychology, self-compassion makes accountability stick. You don't need to self-destruct — just clean up your side of the street. 2️⃣ Set Clear Goals “I’ll do better” is garbage. Be specific. “I’ll go to therapy once a week” or “I’ll stop ghosting people who care about me.” Vagueness is the enemy of growth. 3️⃣ Get Called Out Find someone who won’t let you BS your way through life. A friend. A therapist. Even your mom if she’s savage enough. Growth needs accountability partners. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being honest. Owning your stuff sucks at first — but it’s the only path to peace, purpose, and power. 👊 Drop a comment: What’s one thing you’re holding yourself accountable for starting TODAY? StartHealing
Self-Criticism: The Inner Tyrant You Didn’t Hire | Sober Psychology Episode 26
Yo, Sober Psychology squad, it’s Michael, your mind-diving host! In this gut-punch of an episode, we’re tackling Self-Criticism—that inner jerk who calls you a failure for forgetting your lines or, worse, for stumbling in recovery. Expect razor-sharp psych wisdom (Jung, CBT, brain scans, oh my!) and real talk on how this trash-talking voice fuels addiction’s chaos. I’m serving up three legit tips to shut it down, plus laughs that don’t suck—think bad mechanics and a critic named Gary. Watch, chuckle, heal. Hit like, comment your critic’s dumbest line!