On the outside, Dr Mel Hicks (47) had it all. She's been a global philanthropist for two decades. She’s a published author, keynote speaker, and has travelled to 44 countries. But another failed marriage, and an emergency hysterectomy threw Mel into shame and self-doubt. She was alone again, and she’d never be a mother – and she blamed herself. As a high-achiever and a self-proclaimed “runner” from her problems, Mel dove into her charity work, and drank and partied so she wouldn’t have to face her feelings of not-enoughness. She finally had to confront the big emotions she’d been running from. Can she find a new way of relating to herself if she’s not a mom, and still feel enough? Let’s find out… 

0:00 Intro

 

2:22. Why Mel’s inability to have children caused her to feel so much not-enoughness

 

4:03 When Mandy’s second marriage fell apart, and the not-enoughness she felt

 

4:59 Mel’s second divorce was a pivotal moment for her

 

9:49 The shame of not being part of the “motherhood club”

 

12:27 Mel’s fibroid diagnosis

 

13:35 Mel’s coping mechanisms (wine and work)

 

15:41 Liz Gilbert quote. Mel gets fed up of her own BS

 

17:31 “I forgive you”

 

20:04 The exhaustion of pushing down emotions

 

21:22 Mel allowed her shame stories to surface

 

24:58 Moving forward vs “running”

 

26:23 Shame resilience

 

28:09 How Mel picked shame apart

 

32:57/Outro What Mel has recently said “Enough!” to

 

Links

 

Melanie Sue Hicks’s website and book.

 

Mel on Instagram

 

Mandy on Instagram