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There’s a word many of us use to feel validated or justified that actually keeps us stuck in self-doubt. Whether it sounds like “I deserve this” or “maybe I don’t deserve that,” this way of thinking quietly turns your life into a moral evaluation instead of a place where you get to make choices.
In this episode, I explain why the idea of “deserving” is a mental trap and how it reinforces shame, second-guessing, and the belief that you need permission to want, enjoy, or change something. I share a different framework for relating to desire, hardship, and agency so you can stop debating your worth and start deciding what you want to experience instead.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: schoolofnewfeministthought.com/464
Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/
Mentioned in this episode:
You're Invited: Tea at the Ritz
Join me on Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 3:30-5:30pm for Tea at the Ritz in Paris.
Join me for tea at the Ritz here!
By Kara Loewentheil4.6
50975,097 ratings
There’s a word many of us use to feel validated or justified that actually keeps us stuck in self-doubt. Whether it sounds like “I deserve this” or “maybe I don’t deserve that,” this way of thinking quietly turns your life into a moral evaluation instead of a place where you get to make choices.
In this episode, I explain why the idea of “deserving” is a mental trap and how it reinforces shame, second-guessing, and the belief that you need permission to want, enjoy, or change something. I share a different framework for relating to desire, hardship, and agency so you can stop debating your worth and start deciding what you want to experience instead.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: schoolofnewfeministthought.com/464
Follow along on Instagram: instagram.com/karaloewentheil/
Mentioned in this episode:
You're Invited: Tea at the Ritz
Join me on Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 3:30-5:30pm for Tea at the Ritz in Paris.
Join me for tea at the Ritz here!

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