Pursue What Matters

Have you ever feared losing your edge and found yourself pushing too hard, only to end up burned out? You’re not alone—many people fall into this cycle. This week on the podcast, we're tackling this concern head-on: exploring why burnout happens and how to avoid it while maintaining your drive.  www.drmelissasmith.com/260-losingyouredge

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Are you feeling stuck in survival mode, wondering how to get through when there’s no end in sight? This week on the podcast, we’re exploring three core components of self-compassion: self-kindness, recognizing common humanity, and mindfulness. We’ll discuss how understanding these concepts can help you move beyond just surviving and start thriving.    Join me as we dive into practical ways to brea...

Feeling anxious about taking action? It's normal—the highest anxiety often comes from anticipation. This week on the podcast, we're discussing how taking small steps can help overcome a crisis of confidence and reduce anxiety. We’ll dive into five key steps: get compassionate, get quiet, get perspective, get help, and get feedback. Join me as we explore each of these strategies in depth and learn...

Have you ever experienced a crisis of confidence? If you haven't, you might not be truly living because ups and downs are part of life—whether at home, in relationships, or at work. This week on the podcast, we're exploring what happens when your confidence falters and how to navigate it. You're not alone, and there are valuable insights to help you through it. www.drmelissasmith.com/257-confidenc...

In psychology, we often explore tools that help us navigate life, and one of my favorites from the trauma literature is the Window of Tolerance. It's a powerful concept that I use both in clinical practice and leadership. It provides a framework for understanding our experiences and helps us manage them more effectively.   Tune in to today’s podcast episode to learn what the Window of Tolerance is...

If you've listened to the podcast before, you know I'm a bit of a geek about attachment. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the topic of secure attachment—a key factor in happiness, security, and healthier relationships.   Attachment forms early in life, and we all carry its impact with us. Without awareness, those early attachment issues can affect our present-day relationships. Join me as we...

Life is tough, and we all face stressors that impact our minds and bodies. When stress hits, our nervous system often reacts in ways that aren't always helpful.   Tune in today as we discuss how to manage these reactions and develop effective coping strategies. It's more than just finding comfort. It's about learning how to handle stress in a way that works.

Hello! I hope you've had a wonderful summer while I've been away! I'm excited to get back into a new season of the podcast with you. One thing that's been a theme for this podcast, and my life, is that we should always be learning. So on this episode, I wanted to share 5 things I've learned since last season. Thanks for listening!

It's been a long road to get to 252 podcast episodes, and all I can say is thank you! It's been a great journey, and there's plenty more journey ahead of us. Our journey is going to look a little different moving forward: I'm excited to announce that I'll be releasing podcasts in seasons, just like many of your other favorite podcasts.  Follow along with me on Instagram at @dr.melissasmith for upd...

What do the most successful couples do, and what do they avoid? Join me today as I review The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman, PhD, who’s taught us the most about making marriage work.    This podcast will help you: Learn the secret weapon of successful marriages Understand the 7 principles to making marriage work Identify one key way to strengthen your relationship 

Attachment style is based on attachment theory, a very useful theory of human development that psychologists have been utilizing to better understand how humans function in relationships. Join me today for a review of attachment style, learn more about your attachment adaptation, why attachment matters in work and love.    This podcast will help you: Identify attachment styles  Learn how attachmen...

We all want deep, enduring love, but how many of us actually achieve that? Today, we're talking about true intimacy, what it is, and how to get it in your life.    This podcast will help you: Understand what whole love is Learn healthy selfishness Find true intimacy in your relationships

Do you have a quiet ego or a noisy ego? We all know people whose ego walks into the room before they do. A quiet ego is self-assured but always makes room for others.    This podcast will help you: Understand what ego means Identify different components of an ego Learn how a quiet ego doesn't mean a silent ego

As we step into February, the month of love, here's a thought to ponder: do you consider yourself a loving soul or a bit of a prickly pear? More importantly, what do others perceive, and can you see yourself clearly?   Join me today as we kick off the month by taking a moment to look in the mirror. This podcast will help you:   Discover that the key to well-being is the ability to love others unse...

Have you ever wondered if you're living up to your full potential or just sliding by? How can you even tell? Join me as I review Hidden Potential by Adam Grant, packed with the latest research on discovering your hidden potential. It's an eye-opener that might reshape your perspective.   This podcast will help you: Discover that everyone has hidden potential Learn how to unlock your hidden potenti...

Curious about what happens during Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy? Wondering how it works and how it addresses mental health concerns?    Join me as I continue the conversation into the process of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, unraveling its intricacies and exploring its impact on mental well-being.   This podcast will help you: Learn what to expect during ketamine therapy  Understand what trea...

There's been a lot of talk about ketamine therapy in addition to talk of psychedelic medicine. The face of psychiatry is changing dramatically, and while it's not a magic bullet, these therapies can help individuals get traction where they've felt stuck before.   Join me today as I talk about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and whether it could benefit you or someone you care about.   This podcast...

Life has challenges, growth opportunities, and trials that will bring you to your knees. But are you awake to all life has to offer?    Join me today as I invite you to abandon numbing, embrace perspective, and be aware of the profound ways life is calling to you.    This podcast will help you: Abandon numbing as a way of waking up to life Embrace perspective to learn life's most meaningful lesson...

I track my years by the books I read, and so it's the perfect time to share with you some of my favorite 2023 reads. Join me on the podcast as I give you some top picks in literary fiction, health, history, memoir, and self-development.    This podcast will help you:  Discover new reading genres and authors Develop perspective about life through the eyes of others Commit to positive health practic...

It can be so frustrating to discover you're caught in another trap of your own making. Learning to ask the question "Why does this keep happening?" can be the first step to greater self-awareness. Learn to side-step traps and cycles that keep you stuck.    Tune in today to learn how to be awake and alert in your life and decision-making. Don’t let unconscious patterns take you down.    This podcas...

As humans, we have an unconscious life and a conscious life. Think of your conscious life as the top of the iceberg and your unconscious life as the base of the iceberg beneath the surface of the water.    Most of us are clueless about our unconscious life but fail to appreciate how life under the iceberg drives emotions, thoughts, and behavior in powerful ways. It's time to uncover the iceberg th...

Are you overly protective of your children, constantly fretting about their decisions? Maybe you think this is good, responsible parenting.    Think again. Tune into today's podcast to learn about the dangers of helicopter parenting, how good parents are vulnerable to over-parenting, and why you should give your kids space to fail.    This podcast will help you:  Learn what a helicopter parent is...