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The SelfWork Podcast

260 SelfWork: A Dozen Things To Do When You Hit A Mental Wall

The SelfWork Podcast

Margaret Robinson Rutherford PhD

Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.81.3K Ratings

🗓️ 26 November 2021

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It’s confession time here at SelfWork. People ask me all the time, “How do you have time for writing?” Or, “How do you come up with ideas?” Well, yesterday I was hitting a blank wall for this episode today. I’d start writing and then figure out I’d already written on the topic. Or I’d start something and talk myself out of it. But then, I decided to do something I did when I was writing the book and hit just as big a wall, if not bigger.  And I’ll offer a dozen things for you to do when you hit your own brick wall.

What are a few of those? Acceptance, not catastrophizing or panicking, looking for reasons or a context as to why this particular task or mental problem has so much power, giving yourself emotional space when you're anxious or irritable. You'll have to listen to find out more!

I’m always grateful to hear from any of you who write or leave a voicemail. But this voicemail came in last week – and the listener was talking about an interview that I did with Lewis Howes a couple of years ago where he saw another side of me. I know just the interview he’s talking about and will have a clip of that for you in the show notes and the link as well. I was very grateful for his feedback!

So in this episode, sponsored by Athletic Greens, let’s talk about hitting the proverbial wall – what does it mean when your mind goes blank, when you “run out of ideas”, you can’t seem to find your focus or even the meaning in what you’re doing.

Important Links:

Click Here for the fabulous offer from Athletic Greens - now AG1 - with bonus product with your subscription!

My interview with Lewis Howes on The School of Greatness

Huffpost article on mental obstacles of runners

And here's the clip if you'd like to see!

[video width="1000" height="1000" mp4="https://drmargaretrutherford.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/DrMargaretIGPromo_V1.mp4"][/video]

My new book entitled Perfectly Hidden Depression is going strong and you can order here! Its message is specifically for those with a struggle with strong perfectionism which acts to mask underlying emotional pain. But the many self-help techniques described can be used by everyone who chooses to begin to address emotions long hidden away that are clouding and sabotaging your current life.

And there’s a new way to send me a message! You can record by clicking below and ask your question or make a comment. You’ll have 90 seconds to do so and that time goes quickly. By recording, you’re giving SelfWork (and me) permission to use your voice on the podcast. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!

 

 

 

 

 

Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is Selfwork, and I'm Dr. Margaret Rutherford.

0:14.1

At Selfwork, we'll discuss psychological and emotional issues common in today's world

0:19.0

and what to do about them.

0:20.4

I'm Dr. Margaret, and Selfwork is a podcast dedicated to you taking just a few minutes today

0:26.2

for your own Selfwork.

0:29.8

Hello, and welcome to Selfwork.

0:31.8

I'm Dr. Margaret Rutherford.

0:33.3

I'm a clinical psychologist, and I've lived and worked in Arkansas for almost 30 years.

0:38.7

I started Selfwork five years ago in order to extend the walls of my practice to hopefully

0:44.0

make therapy more approachable, more understandable, and I wanted to reach those of you who might

0:50.5

already be very interested in psychological or emotional issues, maybe in therapy, to those

0:56.2

of you who've just been diagnosed with something and you're looking for answers or you're

1:00.3

having a relationship problem that's just not getting settled.

1:04.8

But also to a third group of you that might say to your friends, oh, I'd never darkened

1:08.4

the door of a therapist, but you're just curious enough or sadly unhappy enough to tune in.

1:15.6

I'm glad all of you are here.

1:18.4

It's confession time here at Selfwork.

1:21.3

People ask me all the time, how do you have time for writing or how do you come up with

1:24.8

these ideas?

1:25.8

Well, yesterday I hit a blank wall for this episode today.

1:30.9

I'd start writing and then figure out I'd already written on the topic or I'd start something

1:34.7

and talk myself out of it, but then I decided to do something I did when I was writing the

...

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