Are you on the struggle bus, my friend? If so, you are not alone – even if it super duper feels like it a lot of the time. And, as much as it sucks, the struggle is just a normal part of being human. What there is to do is persist and remember to connect when you can.

This episode isn't here to cheer you up or drown you in my usual ebullient positivity. Instead, I'm just offering empathy, witnessing, and some virtual companionship in times when shit just feels really hard (and maybe a bit hopeless). We're just in a winter right now, and what there is to do is hunker down and await the return of spring.

Resources, References, and Links

Note: book recommendations include affiliate links. If you buy a copy, I’ll get a tiny commission, and that would be super cool.

Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman (is the book), and then the definition is: avoiding, suppressing, or rejecting negative emotions in favor of an unrealistic optimism.

Spiritual bypassing: the use of spiritual practices and beliefs to avoid dealing with difficult emotions and unresolved issues.

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May.

Settling vs. Acceptance episode.

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski. This is about 20% about identifying and dealing with burnout, and then 80% about how patriarchal society contributes to burnout for women in particular. (It’s super good.)