Beyond the Smile

Summary

In this episode of "Beyond the Smile" with host MaryLayo, we delve into the intricacies of finding not just a job, but a fulfilling career that aligns with one's interests and talents. Career and talent strategist Stephen Shortt, CEO of Career Fit, unpacks the importance of job satisfaction and how it contributes to overall happiness and good mental health.

Listeners will explore the idea of passion versus enjoyment in career choice, the growing phenomenon of career burnout, and the evolving landscape of jobs that may not even exist yet. Stephen Short emphasises the value of career guidance in schools and how parental expectations can shape—and sometimes limit—a child's career aspirations.

The episode also discusses how individuals can navigate career transitions, whether early in their work life or in their later years. It reassures those at career crossroads that happiness in their profession is not just attainable but deserved.

Concluding with a touch of spiritual wellness, MaryLayo offers a reflective tip from Psalm 37, inviting listeners to join her next time for more insights on mental health and spiritual wellbeing. Take a moment and delve into what may be 'beyond the smile'. Remember to follow, like and share if you enjoyed the discussion on the critical relationship between career satisfaction and overall life satisfaction.

For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist advice and support if needed.

#BeyondTheSmilePodcast #FindYourCareerPath #PassionVersusEnjoyment #MaryLayoTalks #MentalHealth #SpiritualHealth

Timestamps

(00:00:01) Introduction to Mental Health and Spiritual Well-being

(00:00:45) Aligning Career with Interests

(00:04:01) The Cost of Misaligned Career Choices

(00:14:11) Career Guidance in Irish Schools

(00:16:31) Teen Readiness for Career Choices

(00:18:32) Future of Work Discussion in Schools

(00:24:49) Multiple Career Changes in a Lifetime

(00:26:01) Insights from the eBook 'Your Next Career'

(00:30:09) Transforming Passion into Career

(00:33:47) Identifying a Career Focus

(00:36:01) Biannual Career Trends Update

(00:38:30) Advice for Career Crossroads

(00:41:52) Spiritual Wellness Tip: Psalm Chapter 37

Guest details:

As a Career & Talent Strategist, Stephen is deeply committed to helping individuals and organisations in devising and achieving their career aspirations through a blend of career counselling, talent assessment, and strategic planning. His work with ETC Consult, CareerFit, Talent Select, Successful Succession, Delta Events and Distributed Training is centred around helping to match the right people with the right careers. Stephen’s upcoming books, “Your Future Career” and “Your Next Career,” are further examples of his commitment to helping others at different stages of their career journeys. “Your Future Career” is geared towards students and young professionals, while “Your Next Career” offers guidance for those seeking to change or enhance their career paths.

Marylayo's spiritual wellbeing tips: 

• Meditate on Bible scripture: Psalm 37:23-24
• Meditate on song: Open My Heart, Yolanda Adams

In this episode, Marylayo is with guest, Richard (Junior) Asomaning, who shares his experience of having a brother diagnosed with autism.  

Discussion points include:

• What are some of the signs/traits of Autism?
• How did your brother come to be diagnosed with autism?
• Did you ever feel overlooked in your family due to the focus on your brother’s needs?
• Were there specific challenges you faced growing up that you attribute to having a sibling with autism? How did you deal with them?
• As you’ve both grown older, in what ways has your relationship with your brother evolved over the years?
• What are the misconceptions or stereotypes about autism that you’ve encountered?
• Are there any specific strengths or unique qualities that you admire or appreciate in your brother? 
• Are there any general concerns that you have related to your brother having autism
• How do you deal with those concerns?
• How has this experience shaped you as a person?
• Has there been anything along your journey that you found really helpful?
• Bible verse to support spiritual wellbeing.

Take a moment to delve into what may be 'beyond the smile' - listen in to the conversation.

Marylayo's spiritual wellbeing tip: Meditate on the bible scripture Deuteronomy 31:8.

Connect with MaryLayo:

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For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist advice and support if needed.

Perfectionism

In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Dr Tom Curran, a world-leading expert on perfectionism. We talk about perfectionism and share our own personal experiences.

Questions included:

• What led you to focus on perfectionism?
• What's perfectionism and how does it develop and impact on someone's mental health?
• What misconceptions about perfectionism should be debunked?
• How could someone know where they sit on the perfectionist spectrum?
• What role does society play in fostering or challenging perfectionist tendencies?
• What interesting research findings have you found about perfectionism?
• How can someone overcome the challenges related to perfectionism?

Take a moment to delve into what may be 'beyond the smile' - listen in to the conversation.

Guest details:

Thomas Curran is a chartered psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics. He has written on perfectionism and related topics for TIME magazine and the Harvard Business Review. His work has been featured in publications such as the New Scientist and the Times of London, and covered by many international publications including the Guardian, Economist, Telegraph, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Ariana Huffington's 'Thrive Global' campaign. In 2018, he gave a TEDMED talk entitled 'Our Dangerous Obsession with Perfectionism is Getting Worse' and in 2023 he published his debut book, ‘The Perfection Trap.’

Guest's website: https://www.thomascurran.co.uk/

MaryLayo's spiritual wellbeing tip:

• Meditate on the bible scriptures: Matt 11:28-30 & 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Listen to Dear God. Artist: Cory Asbury 

Related resources: Also check out podcasts Episode 4: Not now...Later! & Episode 10 Still Procrastinating?

Connect with MaryLayo:

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For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist advice and support if needed.

How do you go about clearing the house, and personal belongings, when someone dies? In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Dr Chris Davis, and we share our experiences of clearing the home following the passing of a loved one.   

Discussion includes:

• The emotional and practical challenges faced during the process of grieving and clearing the house.
• The role of friends and family.
• Navigating through the house clearing process - deciding what belongings to keep or part with when grieving.
• Tips and advice for those grieving and clearing the house.
• Bible scripture to support spiritual wellbeing.

Take a moment to delve into what may be 'beyond the smile' - listen in to the conversation.

Marylayo's spiritual wellbeing tip: Meditate on the bible scripture Psalm 34:18.

Connect with MaryLayo:

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For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist advice and support if needed.

Grief with Shame

In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Professor Dale Larson, an award winning author and clinical psychologist, about the feeling of shame some can have when grieving and how they can overcome the challenges based on evidence-based findings.  

Discussion includes:

• What comes under the bracket of ‘shameful grief’?
• How cultural and societal norms impact the perception of shame when grieving?
• How can someone face and unburden their secrets?
• What are the healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with secrets?
• What tips and advice would you give to someone who is suffering from grief in silence?
• Bible scriptures to support spiritual wellbeing.

Take a moment. Delve into what may be 'beyond the smile' and listen in to the conversation.

Guest details:

Professor Dale Larson is an award winning author and clinical psychologist. He is the J. Thomas and Kathleen L. McCarthy Professor of Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University, a Fellow in three Divisions of the American Psychological Association (Counseling, Health, and Humanistic Psychology) and Member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement.

• Larson, D. G., & Chastain, R. L. (1990). Self-concealment: Conceptualization, measurement, and health implications. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 9(4), 439-455.
• Larson, D. G., Chastain, R. L., Hoyt, W. T., & Ayzenberg, R. (2015). Self-concealment: Integrative review and working model. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 34(8), 705-729.

Guest's website

Related resources: Check out Episode 7: Losing Keven

Marylayo's spiritual wellbeing tips: Romans 8:1 & 1 John 1:9.

Connect with MaryLayo:

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For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist advice and support if needed.

Happily Ever After

What are the odds of finding true love after 40? In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, guest Vinnie Garrett shares her thoughts about romance and dating, potential partners, sustaining a marriage and incorporating God into life.

Discussion points include:

• Thoughts on first and second-time marriages?
• During your journey to getting married what helped your mental health and spiritual health?
• What are the misconceptions that people can have about singleness and even marriage?
• What advice do you have for individuals who are still single and struggling with feelings of loneliness or even societal expectations?
• Bible scriptures to support spiritual wellbeing.

Take a moment to delve into what may be 'beyond the smile' - listen in to the conversation.

Marylayo's spiritual wellbeing tip: Meditate on the book of Ruth, i.e., Chapters 1-4, in the bible.

Connect with MaryLayo:

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For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist advice and support if needed.

The Fashionably Late Bride: Finding love later in life

What are the odds of finding true love after 40? In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, guest Vinnie Garrett shares about the ups and downs of single life and dating into her late forties. Vinnie shares about her life as a bachelorette, quest to find a husband, her preparation for marriage and how God mysteriously played a part in her journey to walking down the aisle and getting married.

Discussion points include:

• What was dating and life like as a single person?
• What was your biggest fear or concern while single?
• What were your key learnings while seeing a therapist?
• How did you meet your husband?
• Did you know your husband was ‘the one’?
• How did your perception of marriage and having children change in your 20s, 30s and 40s?
• How did your singleness affect your faith and relationship with God?
• Bible verses for restoration.

Take a moment to delve into what may be 'beyond the smile' - listen in to the conversation.

MaryLayo's spiritual wellbeing tip: Meditate on the bible scriptures Joel 2:25-26, Lamentations 3:25 & Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Connect with MaryLayo:

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For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist advice and support if needed.

All Work and No Play - Insights on Burnout

In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest Dr Karen Michell. Karen, an occupational health nurse with experience in academia, shares her experience of going through burnout, both as a worker and a boss, and how it impacted her mental health.

The conversation and questions include:

• What is burnout?
• What are the common signs of burnout?
• What burnout symptoms did you experience?
• What triggered the burnout?
• How did you come to realise you had burnout?
• How many times have you experienced burnout?
• What key steps did you take to overcome burnout?
• What do you do to keep you from burning out again?
• What advice would you give to someone who is currently experiencing burnout?
• How faith in God helped in the burnout process.
• Bible verses for burnout.

Take a moment to delve into what may be 'beyond the smile' - listen in to the conversation.

Guest details:

Karen is a wife and mother with two grandsons. She is also an occupational health nurse practitioner with over 25 years’ international experience spanning occupational health, safety, research, and education. Her professional experience is underpinned by a strong academic and research background which extended into occupational safety and health (OSH) consultancy in pharmaceutical, construction, logistics, healthcare and manufacturing sectors.

Karen's a Fellow of the Academy of Nursing in South Africa in recognition of her contribution to research and practice in occupational health nursing. She is an accomplished international author and presenter on multiple occupational safety and health related subjects.

MaryLayo's spiritual wellbeing tip: Meditate on the bible scripture Colossians 1:11.

Related resources: Also check out podcasts Episode 1: Running on Empty & Episode 8: Helping the Helper.

Connect with MaryLayo:

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For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist advice and support if needed.

Going through a Brain Tumour

In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Mildred Talabi, about her experience when she discovered she had a brain tumour and the impact this had on her mental health and spiritual wellbeing during the recovery process. 

The conversation includes:

• Signs that led Mildred to realise that something wasn’t right and that she had brain tumour.
• Questioning and hearing from God about the illness.       
• Mildred’s recovery process after surgery.
• Challenges and successes post operation.
• The different forms of support Mildred received from friends and family.
• How Mildred deals with the annual medical check-ups.
• Mildred’s faith in Jesus over her health and future.  
• Bible scriptures and music that helped Mildred in her journey.
• What Mildred learned about herself following her battle with brain tumour.
• How Mildred now views life and the changes made following the experience.
• Advice for those going through a serious health challenge.

Take a moment to delve into what may be 'beyond the smile' - listen in to the conversation.

Guest details:

Mildred Talabi trained as a Journalist and worked in the media, before transitioning into Public Relations and then Communications. Along the way, Mildred started several businesses, authored four books, and had the privilege of speaking to and training many audiences across different countries. Today, Mildred specialises in working with female leaders and women in business to build powerful and authentic personal brands through being visible on LinkedIn. 

Guest's website

MaryLayo's spiritual wellbeing tips:

• Meditate on the bible scriptures: John 16:33, Philippians 4:13 & Psalm 23:4
• Listen to No Longer Slaves. Artist: Zach Williams. 

Connect with MaryLayo:

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For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist professional advice and support if needed.

Anxiety Treatments

In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I continue talking to psychotherapist, Suzi Williams, about anxiety. This time we focus more on the various treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and self-help tips, that can be applied to help improve our mental health and wellbeing. 

The conversation covers:

• The treatments used to explore anxiety and reframe our mindset. 
• What CBT is and how it works
• Exposure therapy
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Psychoeducation
• How to know if I have anxiety
• Self-help tips
• Bible verses for anxiety

Take a moment to delve into what may be 'beyond the smile' - listen in to the conversation.

Guest details:

Suzi is a Person-Centred psychotherapist passionate about self-discovery, self-development and personal growth.

Guest's website

MaryLayo's spiritual wellbeing tip: Meditate on the bible scriptures Luke 12:24-26 & Philippians 4:6-77.

Related resources: Also check out podcasts Episode 11: Unravelling Anxiety & Episode 12: Unravelling Anxiety Part 2.

Connect with MaryLayo:

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For help in dealing with mental health related matters, please seek specialist advice and support if needed.