Emancipate Your Mind

When we have a loud or persistent inner critical voice, it can sometimes feel like we’re at war with ourselves. What if we understood that that part of us isn’t trying to be an enemy, but our friend? What if we knew that this part, harsh and critical as it is, is trying to keep us safe? In this episode, we utilize the research of Internal Family Systems created by Richard Schwartz and the compassionate conversation techniques taught by Chris Burris, senior lead trainer for Internal Family Systems Institute to bury the hatchet with our inner critic and learn to understand it, befriend it, and ultimately work with it to create safety for us both. ____________________________________________________________________JOIN THE DISCUSSION Come join the Emancipate Yourself Facebook group for more discussion about the podcast and random thoughts that pop up while I’m researching or in the shower. DONATE TO THE PODCAST: Want to support our work and keep these resources available to all who want or need them? Consider making a tax-deductible donation at emancipateyourmind.org

In this episode, District 18 Candidate for Texas Senate, Josh Tutt, talks about how 3 of his guiding principles have helped him worry less about what people will think of him as an openly gay man running for office and be the change he wishes to see and he believes Texans deserve. To follow Josh on his campaign trail, to donate to his campaign, or to talk with him more about his Dungeons and Dragons habit, visit his website tuttfortexas.com . Or follow him @tuttfortexas on all of the social media sites. Twitter: @tuttfortexas Instagram: @tuttfortexas YouTube: Josh Tutt for Texas Senate ____________________________________________________________________JOIN THE DISCUSSION Come join the Emancipate Yourself Facebook group for more discussion about the podcast and random thoughts that pop up while I’m researching or in the shower. DONATE TO THE PODCAST: Want to support our work and keep these resources available to all who want or need them? Consider making a tax-deductible donation at emancipateyourmind.org

Have you ever tried to change a behavior or thought pattern but found yourself getting “blocked”, distracted, or feeling resistance to change? Do you feel recurring depressive thoughts or anxiety that you can’t explain? You’re likely encountering a protective part of you that is trying to shield a wounded childhood version of yourself from further pain or harm. In this episode, we talk about how we can begin to create relationships with these “protectors” and help them feel safe enough to put down their defenses and allow us to contact and eventually adopt and reparent the wounded exiles they shield so that we no longer need to engage in maladaptive behaviors to feel safe. RESOURCES FOR THIS PODCAST: Alessio Rizzo www.therapywithalessio.com Richard Schwartz www.ifs-institute.com ____________________________________________________________________JOIN THE DISCUSSION Come join the Emancipate Yourself Facebook group for more discussion about the podcast and random thoughts that pop up while I’m researching or in the shower. DONATE TO THE PODCAST: Want to support our work and keep these resources available to all who want or need them? Consider making a tax-deductible donation at emancipateyourmind.org

Sometimes we may feel like we are at odds with ourselves as we heal from religious and childhood trauma and attachment injuries. There may be part of ourselves that feels excited and free as we move towards the next chapter in our lives, and another part of ourselves that feels anxious, afraid, and even ashamed of the direction we’re headed. In this episode, we explore how Internal Family Systems Therapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz helps us understand and accept the various sub-personalities we all have, how these various pieces of ourselves may have been tasked with unhealthy roles because of past trauma, and how opening up space for each of these “parts” of ourselves to be seen, heard, and validated allows us to ultimately feel whole and cohesive again. ____________________________________________________________________JOIN THE DISCUSSION Come join the Emancipate Yourself Facebook group for more discussion about the podcast. DONATE TO THE PODCAST: Want to support the research and broadcast of this podcast so that even more people have access to these resources? Make a tax-deductible donation at emancipateyourmind.org

While it’s been found that learning to be more authentic (to live true to our own values, beliefs, feelings, and needs) can bring us a greater sense of self esteem, lower stress, and greater life satisfaction, many of us can get caught up in old subconscious thought patterns when trying to live authentically that can actually make it harder for us to accept who we are in the present moment and allow ourselves to change over time. In this episode, we unravel those thought patterns and consider ways we can give ourselves greater flexibility while consciously choosing to live in ways that feel “true” to us. __________________________________________________________________________ This week on the Facebook group, we’ll be discussing the common limiting thoughts that get in the way of living more freely as ourselves. Consider joining the discussion on the “Emancipate Yourself” Facebook Group. If you find this podcast helpful and want to help it grow, consider making a tax-deductible donation at www.emancipateyourmind.org

Whether you’re leaving a high demand religion or coming out as LGBTQIA+, talking to those you love can feel daunting and overwhelming. In today’s episode, Coming Out Coach, Sally Osborne, walks us through the things she’s learned about coming out to friends and family members in a way that honors our feelings and boundaries and gives our relationships the best chance of surviving and even thriving as we live our truth.____________________________________________________________________GO GET A DAILY DOSE OF RAINBOWS: Follow Sally on Instagram @comingoutcoachOr go listen to her podcast: Peace Out on Apple iTunes or wherever you love to listenCatch Sal and Lena’s 6 hour interview on Mormon Stories PodcastAnd stay tuned for the Hulu Documentary coming out for Pride Month that Sally and Lena are featured in!____________________________________________________________________JOIN THE DISCUSSION Come join the Emancipate Yourself Facebook group for more discussion about the podcast and random thoughts that pop up while I’m researching or in the shower. DONATE TO THE PODCAST: Want to support our work and keep these resources available to all who want or need them? Consider making a tax-deductible donation at emancipateyourmind.org

Most people want their parents’ approval. The fear of disappointing parents seems to be a near universal concern. For those of us healing from high demand Christian religion, this is often compounded by the indoctrination that we must “honor father and mother” if we want to be a good person. And even worse, “honor” is often conflated with “obey” and then liberally mixed with a sense of entitlement. This can cause problems for us as we mature into adulthood but also if our relationships with our parents were tumultuous or traumatic. In this episode, we dismantle some of the unhealthy ideas embedded in the modern Christian understanding of “honor father and mother”, explore the underlying causes to parents’ inability to allow their children to differentiate and mature with dignity, and talk about new ways to frame “honoring” father and mother that also honor our own autonomy and personal authority in our lives. ____________________________________________________________________________  DONATE TO THE PODCAST: emancipateyourmind.org JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/370375144009891 References from this podcast: “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle Brenna Twohy- “Sometimes people use ‘respect’ to mean ‘treating someone like a person’ and sometimes they use ‘respect’ to mean ‘treating someone like an authority’. And sometimes people who are used to being treated like an authority say, ‘if you won’t respect me I won’t respect you’ and they mean ‘if you won’t treat me like an authority, then I won’t treat you like a person. And they think they’re being fair but they aren’t, and it’s not okay.”

The fear of disappointing others is usually pretty high for those of us deconstructing high demand religious indoctrination and practices. Because high demand systems often encourage codependency, we often believe we are responsible for other people’s emotions and even sometimes their feelings of self-worth. When other people are disappointed with us or just don’t like us we don’t just feel the normal discomfort someone raised with healthy boundaries might feel, we may also feel a sense of failure. In this episode, we discuss 3 difficult truths about the fear of disappointing others and how learning to tolerate and eventually release that fear actually frees you to attract the love and acceptance you were hoping to gain from the people pleasing in the first place.____________________________________________________________________________  JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/370375144009891 References from this podcast: Nick Wignall’s Blog Post: “How to Get Over the Fear of Disappointing Others”“Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle“Grow As We Go” by Ben Platt

The family scapegoat and golden child roles are two sides of the same coin, and neither role has to do with the merit of the child themselves. It all has to do with how the parent sees themselves. In this episode, we explore what traits the golden child may have in adulthood, the benefits and struggles that come with that, as well as how they are pitted against the scapegoat to provide the emotionally immature parent a supply of attention. We also explore how high demand religion influences family systems that employ this scapegoat/golden child dynamic and how to begin shedding these roles if they no longer serve us. _____________________________________________________________________________JOIN THE DISCUSSION If you’d like to be part of an online community where we take the podcast topics and pull them apart for discussion and further learning, talk about all the religious transition things, and just enjoy each other’s company, join my free “Emancipate Yourself” Facebook group at this link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/370375144009891 If you’d like more step-by-step assistance learning to feel safe in your body, reconnect with your emotions, and use that emotional connection to begin to reestablish a healthy sense of self,  check out the Emancipate Yourself App on Google Play in the Apple App Store. Or if you want to follow me for religious and psychological insights, commentary on events in the world, links to other people doing great work related to religion, and little windows into my real life, follow me on Instagram or Reddit @EmancipatedMolly , TikTok @EmancipatedTeri , or Twitter @EmancipatedTeri.  If you have a question or want to talk about further coaching support, please email me at teri@emancipatedcoaching.com 

This week we unravel what it’s like to be the scapegoat in a dysfunctional family, why a scapegoat role is created, how that person is conditioned over time, and how that affects them in adult life. We also explore some first steps for healing from the limiting beliefs and internalized shame this role can create in our adult lives.___________________________________________________________________________RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Dr. Ramani’s YouTube Channel for survivors of narcissistic abuse The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks_____________________________________________________________________________WANT MORE SUPPORT? If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to contribute to its ability to continue, please consider donating at EmancipateYourMind.org If you’d like to be part of an online community where we take the podcast topics and pull them apart for discussion and further learning, talk about all the religious transition things, and just enjoy each other’s company, join my free “Emancipate Yourself” Facebook group at this link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/370375144009891 If you’d like more step-by-step assistance learning to feel safe in your body, reconnect with your emotions, and use that emotional connection to begin to reestablish a healthy sense of self,  check out the Emancipate Yourself App on Google Play in the Apple App Store. Or if you want to follow me for religious and psychological insights, commentary on events in the world, links to other people doing great work related to religion, and little windows into my real life, follow me on Instagram or Reddit @EmancipatedMolly , TikTok @EmancipatedTeri , or Twitter @EmancipatedTeri.  If you have a question or want to talk about further coaching support, please email me at teri@emancipatedcoaching.com