Connectedly

Finding Your Voice: Jane Caro on Happiness

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  • How can you face anxiety and still find a way to move forward in this world?
  • As women, how do we find our voice and feel confident enough to shout it from the roof tops?
  • Plus…how can story telling help us to connect better?

    • Today on connectedly, we are talking with Jane Caro AM, a Walkley Award winning columnist, author, novelist, broadcaster, documentary maker, feminist and social commentator.

    We talk about dismantling harmful hierarchies, understanding the importance of listening, and the realisation that we are all fundamentally more similar than we are different. Addressing the challenges that women face, we discuss the pressure to conform and the anxiety for constant perfection. Jane opens up about her struggles with anxiety, her perspective on happiness not being a goal but a consequence of contentment, and the critical role of storytelling in fostering connection and happiness. 

    Jane appears frequently on The Drum; Today Extra. She has created and presented 5 documentary series for ABC Compass. She is in demand as a speaker, panel facilitator and MC.

    Takeaways:

    • Embrace Vulnerability and Surrender: Overcoming anxiety involves embracing vulnerability and surrendering control. Recognise the absence that you are the most special person in the world and the futility of trying to control every aspect of life.
    • Challenge Societal Expectations: Women need to reject societal expectations, find self-acceptance, and resist the pursuit of perfection. We need to be comfortable with flaws and not let others dictate worth or emotional expression.
    • Dealing with Anticipation and Anxiety: Address the human tendency to anticipate and worry about the future, Jane advises focusing on the present and adopting a Que Sera Sera attitude, dealing with challenges as they arise instead of getting anxious about hypothetical scenarios.
    • Connect Through Shared Stories:  Incorporate storytelling into your life. Share and listen to stories that evoke emotions. Recognise the shared humanity in these narratives; it's a pathway to empathy and understanding, bridging gaps between people.

      • What We discuss:

      *Warning - some language may offend. 

      00:00 Introduction

      01:12 The Importance of Storytelling and Self-Expression

      03:37 Overcoming Anxiety and Embracing Authenticity

      08:21 The Role of Humour

      10:08 Understanding and Managing Anxiety

      15:09 The Power of Acceptance and Letting Go

      25:21 Challenging Stereotypes and Embracing Individuality

      29:10 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Acceptance

      31:02 The Importance of Living YOUR Life

      32:02 The Power of Acceptance 

      33:05 Vulnerability in Building Connections

      39:27 The Art of Letting Go and Embracing Uncertainty

      45:24 The Power of Storytelling in Building Connections

      48:39 The Importance of Embracing Our Shared Humanity

      54:00 Quick Fire Round

      1:04:00 Takeaways

      Show Links:

      • Jane's latest novel “The Mother’  https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-mother-jane-caro/book/9781760879662.html
      • Jane Caro on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/janecaroofficial/
      • Contact Nicole - https://www.connectedly.com.au/contact
      • Nicole on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nicolesharanam
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        ConnectedlyBy Nicole Sharanam