The Honest Mind

Today we’re diving into the powerful connection between early experiences, core beliefs, the “rules” we create for ourselves, and the automatic thoughts that follow us into adulthood. I walk you through real, relatable examples — like the child who grew up being told they were “too emotional,” or the person who learned to always brace for criticism — and show how these early messages shape our rea...

In this episode of  The Honest Mind , we dive deeper into the heart of healing—understanding the core beliefs that shape how we think, feel, and act. Dr. Akbari explores how these deep-rooted beliefs form the “rules” we live by, often without realizing it, and how they can quietly fuel anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt. Through a powerful real-life example, she unpacks the difference between...

In this episode of The Honest Mind, we take a deep dive into core beliefs. These are deeply rooted stories we tell ourselves that shape how we see the world and respond to it. Through relatable examples, Dr. Fatemeh Akbari breaks down both helpful and unhelpful core beliefs. Join the Honest Mind community in learning how to identify, challenge, and reshape the mental loops that no longer serve you...

In this introspective episode of  The Honest Mind , Dr. Fatima Akbari takes us on a reflective journey into the foundation of our thought patterns—core beliefs. Speaking from the tranquility of a camping trip, she invites listeners to pause and rehumanize their daily lives. Dr. Akbari explores how deeply ingrained beliefs, often formed in childhood, shape the way we see ourselves and the world. Us...

In this heartfelt episode of The Honest Mind, Dr. Fatemeh Akbari invites you into a grounding sensory moment—with a piece of candy—and a brave return to the raw truths of self-love. Picking up from last time, she dives deeper into the origins of how we learn love, the voices that sabotage our self-worth, and the bitter truths we often avoid. Through her own story of postpartum self-judgment and le...

In this two-part series, Dr. Fatemeh Akbari gently explores the origins of self-love—where it begins, how it's shaped, and why it matters. With her signature "big sister energy," she invites listeners into a grounding moment of nervous system regulation before diving into early childhood lessons on nurturance, attachment, and how our caregivers modeled (or didn’t model) love. Drawing on personal e...

In this episode of The Honest Mind, Dr. Fatemeh Akbari speaks candidly about the unspoken weight of chasing goals while running on fumes. With warmth and honesty, she unpacks the myth of “pushing through” and instead invites listeners to acknowledge and externalize their exhaustion as the first true step toward healing—and toward ambition. From personal stories of burnout to gentle grounding exerc...

In this episode of The Honest Mind, Dr. Fatemeh Akbari invites you to rethink what success truly means. In a world that often defines success by timelines, titles, and checklists, what would happen if you stripped away the noise and asked yourself: What does success look like for me? Through personal reflections and gentle guidance, Fatemeh shares how her own journey taught her the value of slowin...

In this heartfelt episode, I open up about the messy, complicated, and often exhausting journey of chasing your dreams when life feels too loud to even hear them. From navigating motherhood and marriage to battling the weight of self-doubt, past pain, and logistical chaos—I share a deeply personal chapter of my life when everything felt like too much. If you've ever felt like giving up, or lik...

In this very first episode of The Honest Mind, I’m opening up about the journey that brought me here. From growing up in an immigrant household, to making hard choices for love, to chasing my dreams while raising babies and navigating deep personal losses—I’ve lived through a lot. This isn’t just my story, though—it’s a way to say: you’re not alone. If you’ve ever felt like you were too late, too...