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In Our Nature
Why do we feel so overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected and lost...and what does that have to do with what's happening on our planet?
This show explores the hidden connections and deeper patterns that are forming our inner struggles and the wider crises unfolding around us. From mental health to ecological collapse, productivity culture to planetary grief, from burnout to reconnection, join me to poke around in the stories, systems and patterns shaping this extraordinary time...
...and then let's riff on what becomes possible when we stop pretending it’s fine and feel the feels.
Your host is me: Siobhán Friel. I'm a mental health practitioner, a Work That Reconnects facilitator and I was probably a lavender plant in a past life.
This podcast offers a way to make sense of your inner and outer world, especially if you were shaped by capitalism (like me) and not by a lineage of ecological literacy, love and wisdom.
You haven't missed the boat. There are many boats and this is one. Get in.
In Our Nature
These Little Thoughts Are Keeping Us Away From Peace & Clarity (And They Aren’t Even Ours)
Today we’re exploring the thought patterns that keep us stuck in cycles of overwhelm, guilt, and inaction, and that block change, prevent peace and clarity, and deny us the spaciousness we desperately need in our lives.
But these thoughts aren’t yours — they are influenced by broader societal stories and cultural conditioning and we’re going upstream to catch them in the act. So to speak.
This episode is a follow-up to What Happens When the Space We Need for Our Mental Wellbeing Is Being Sold off to the Highest Bidder? If you haven’t listened to that one yet, I highly recommend it for added context.
Join me to explore:
- The three persistent thoughts blocking space for peace and clarity in your life
- How these thoughts are shaped by invisible societal stories about worth, scarcity, value, and the role of the individual
- How and why rest, clarity, and spaciousness feel like indulgences
- Why “I’ll have space when…” is a lie (that we always tell ourselves, including me)
- The arrival fallacy and its roots in extractive systems
- What Nature has to say about all this
Mentioned in this episode:
The F word, at least a couple of times, but it’s essential. Kind of. You'll see
Nature is a fan of Queens of the Stone Age - cool
Other work talking about the transmission of thoughts and stories —how our individual thoughts and experiences and inner narratives are influenced by larger ideologies and societal values is here, here, here and here
Recent episodes connecting our self worth to productivity and busyness: are Is It in Our Nature To Be Restless, Unsettled and Anxious? and Why You Never, Ever Feel Good Enough (Even Though You Are Somewhat Amazing)
To comment, share a story, idea, thought or grumble for the next part of this conversation on Space, email me (let me know if you don’t want your name included anywhere)
If you want, pop yourself on to my Friends List for updates and invitations.
I write on Substack now — come interact there if you like.
Everything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person).
Thank you so much for being with me today. You are so fly 🪰
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