Changing Our Relationship With Pain | Dr Emily Musgrove

The Proof with Simon Hill

Simon Hill

Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Self-improvement, Education

4.9 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2025

⏱️ 83 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if trying to feel good all the time is actually keeping you stuck? In this episode of The Proof, I’m joined by Dr. Emily Musgrove, clinical psychologist and author of Unstuck, to explore why emotional discomfort isn’t something to avoid, but something to understand. We unpack what it really means to be “stuck,” how avoidance sneaks into everyday life (even among high performers), and the role of values, awareness, and psychological flexibility in creating meaningful change. In this episode, we cover: Why feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re broken How emotional avoidance drives disconnection The difference between psychological flexibility and cognitive fusion The cost of always performing and staying polished Hedonic vs. eudaimonic wellbeing How to clarify values and live with intention One practical step to start moving forward If you’re feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or just unsure of what’s next, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and tools to help you reconnect with what matters. Want to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. You can also support the show by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast app and sharing your favourite episodes with friends and family. This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code PROOF for 25% off at checkout. Fireflies Stay focused and let Fireflies handle the notes. From transcriptions and summaries to real-time voice commands, Fireflies turns your meetings into actionable insights, seamlessly integrating with Zoom, Google Meet, Slack, and more. Sign up for a yearly plan and get two months FREE at fireflies.ai/theproof. Bragg Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is raw, unfiltered, and naturally fermented with 100% organic apples, always with the live “Mother” in every bottle. Get 20% off your first order at bragg.com with promo code SIMON. Shopify Shopify, the world's leading e-commerce platform, helps you turn browsers into buyers with the internet’s best-converting check out–up to 36% better compared to other leading e-commerce platforms. To boost your conversion rate, and grow your business, sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/proof. Eight Sleep Upgrade your sleep with the Pod 5 Ultra by Eight Sleep. Clinically validated to deliver up to 1 extra hour of quality sleep per night through temperature control and biometric tracking. Use code THEPROOF for $350 off at eightsleep.com/theproof. Try it risk-free for 30 days, with worldwide shipping. WHOOP Whoop, the most advanced fitness and health wearable available. Your personalised fitness and health coach to recover faster, sleep better, and train smarter. Claim your first month free on join.whoop.com/simon. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com Host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Subscribe & Connect: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram: @simonhill Twitter: @theproof Facebook: The Proof with Simon Hill Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide and download my Two-Week Meal Plan.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome back to The Proof. I'm your host, Simon Hill. Today's episode is for anyone who feels like they're going through the motions.
0:08.0	Maybe life looks fine on paper, but inside, something feels off, a little flat, numb, like you've lost your spark or mojo.
0:16.9	My guest today is Dr. Emily Musgrove, a clinical psychologist and author of the new book, Unstuck.
0:22.7	Her work flips a lot of the conventional self-help advice on its head.
0:26.7	Because as she puts it, the goal isn't to necessarily feel good.
0:30.6	It's to live a good life, a meaningful life, one that's guided by your values, not your impulses,
0:37.2	a life where you can meet the full
0:38.5	spectrum of emotion without getting hijacked or shut down by it. In this conversation, we explore
0:43.7	what it really means to be stuck, why psychological flexibility is the key to moving forward,
0:49.1	how avoidance can show up in ways we don't even recognize and how to reconnect with what truly matters,
0:55.3	even in the face of discomfort or pain. It's honest, it's deep at times, and it's packed with
1:01.2	insight that I think a lot of us need to hear, especially men who've often been taught to power
1:06.0	through discomfort or stay polished rather than be real. So if you've ever felt like you're just coasting, waiting for something to shift, or wondering
1:14.6	why things that should make you happy, just don't, this one's for you.
1:20.6	I've been using Shopify for over 15 years now, starting with my first online store back in 2008.
1:29.3	Since then I've built multiple businesses on this platform, including 38 Terra, the GUT Health Supplement brand,
1:36.3	founded by Dr. Will Balsowitz. Shopify has been the backbone of every brand that I've launched,
1:42.3	helping turn ideas into real thriving businesses that reach
1:46.1	customers across the world. And honestly, Shopify has afforded me a lifestyle that I could have
1:52.2	never dreamed of and made it possible for me to pursue the proof this show as a passion project
1:57.8	instead of something that I needed to make super profitable. Shopify powers
2:02.3	millions of businesses globally and accounts for 10% of all e-commerce in the United States,
	...

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