The Work of Being Human

We don't talk about it enough, but we need to. We need to talk about what integrity is and how the presence or lack of it affects our mental and emotional health. Integrity is indeed a virtue and a desirable quality in character, but it goes far beyond being simply praiseworthy. Our integrity is directly related to how we connect with ourselves and others, forming the basis of our support systems and communities. Our level of integrity determines our inner peace and is a potent antidote to anxiety. It's too important to not talk about. This week is all about understanding and cultivating integrity.

Now that we've got a working definition of love, let's talk about what love means in adulthood. How do we know if what we are giving and receiving is the real deal? Hint: real love doesn't cause harm. But... so often we think we are giving love, and what we are doing is actually in the best interest of ourselves. Some of us really struggle with receiving love, and we live in chronic loneliness. We need a clear understanding of how love works and what actions demonstrate real love. It isn't always easy, but it's always in the best interest of another. This week, we explore how love functions in adult lives and why we need to start trusting it. Love changes us, for the better. Love matters.

This week, we tackle the psychological concept and behavioral reality of Love. What is love? What does it mean to be loved? What happens inside of us when we are loved well? What ideas and beliefs do we form about ourselves when we receive love, good love? What happens when we hear "I love you," but the actions we witness or experience aren't loving? What message is communicated then? Love isn't just a subject for theologians and poets; it's an essential concept for everyone who wants to live a healthy life, mentally and emotionally. Human beings need love throughout the lifespan. This week, we take a deeper look at what that means in childhood. Next week, we'll look at the repercussions in adulthood. Believe it or not: love matters. 

People seek therapy because they are in pain - emotional or psychological. They form addictions to substances and processes because they are in pain. We seek comfort, consolation, and company because we find ourselves in pain. Pain is the universal human woe, but so few of us understand what to do with it or how to understand it. Today's podcast unpacks the subject of Pain and gives you an understanding of where you can apply your energy to transform the pain in your life and find your power in it.

Let's unpack Emotional Health. It's a thing. A distinct thing. It has its own markers, and it is work that spans our entire life. We'll take a look at how emotional health is formed, nurtured, encouraged, or stymied in childhood. Then we'll look at what an emotionally healthy adult looks like. How do emotionally healthy adults handle their emotions? Emotional health is inextricably linked to overall mental health. Today's topic is an important one to get under our belts.

Mental health is often defined in the context of mental illness, but mental health has its own markers, just like physical health does. Let's take a look at what those markers are. 

Listen today and learn about the principles, practices, and particulars of mental and emotional growth and how growth is different than change. If we want to grow, we need to create the conditions for growth.