Ever caught your reflection in the mirror and wondered, 'Who's that girl, and why is she making questionable life choices?' Well, you're not alone.

This week we're digging into the grand abyss of self-awareness, inspired by the wise words of Shelly Deval and Robert Wicklund from their 1972 "A theory of objective self awareness" (ah, the '70s, when people were busy asking the real questions....among doing other things).

They tell us we can focus on ourselves or the big, bad world. Then comes the fun part – measuring ourselves up against our own golden standards. Then what? Well, we either bask in our glorious alignment or, more often, scramble to figure out where it all went wrong.

This episode is like a time machine - we're journeying back to my terrible twenties, a time when I majored in Avoidance 101 rather than dealing with those pesky discrepancies. I've had my fair share of foot-in-mouth moments and blind spots that even a lighthouse couldn't illuminate.

But hey, we live, we cringe, we grow. We're also diving into how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) turned my world upside down, and not in an Exorcist kind of way.

So, buckle up, folks! We're diving into the bumpy ride of self-awareness, the art of 'reading the room,' and the awkward dance of setting boundaries. And don't forget that powerful truth bomb dropped by Viktor Frankl, "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom."

Spoiler alert: we're all works in progress. But in the end, self-awareness is a pretty rad tool to have in our survival kit.

Let's Connect

Drop me a line at jen.freefailing@gmail.com, or slide into my DMs on IG: @free_failing.

Resources Mentioned

• What Self Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate it)
• Objective Self-Awareness and Causal Attributions for Self-Standard Discrepancies: Changing Self or Changing Standards of Correctness
• Landmark Theory of Self-awareness by Shelly Deval and Robert Wicklund, 1972.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• That quote by Viktor Frankl we all need tattooed on our foreheads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi, it's me, Jenni, back with another thrilling episode of Free Failing. This time, I've dragged my friend Meghan Williams into the conversation. She's a harpist, writer, meditation teacher, yoga instructor, and most importantly for this episode, a proud member of the no-kids club.

Let's Talk Child-Free

It seems that the world's default setting is to assume everyone wants a litter of tiny humans, doesn't it? But guess what? Some of us just don't! And we're totally okay with it. We dive deep into the why's, the how's, and the good lord, really's? of choosing to live child-free and the pesky stigmas that seem to chase us around (particularly women).

• Social Media Lies: You know those adorable 'happy plaid families' you see on Instagram? Yeah, well, reality check: social media is a carefully curated fantasy. So let's peel back the filters and tackle the reality, shall we?
• Generational Trauma and Choices: Ever thought about breaking the cycles? We discuss how choosing to not have kids can be a conscious journey to neutralize generations of trauma.

Flying Solo

Who says you need a 'better half'? In this episode, we're also chatting about the liberation and self-awareness that comes from being single.

• Relationships vs. Loneliness: We dive into the dangerous idea of being in a relationship solely to avoid loneliness.
• Personal Space & Growth: We talk about the importance of having your own space, even in relationships, for personal growth.
• 
  

Listen in as we recount personal experiences, drop startling statistics, discuss our fears, expectations, and the thrill of breaking societal norms.

Childfree by Choice Stats and Sources:

• Almost half of pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned (Washington Post)
• Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended (United Nations Population Fund)
• Growing share of childless adults in U.S. don’t expect to ever have children (Pew Research Center)

Connect with me

Got your own childfree story to share? Shoot an email to jen.freefailing@gmail.com or slide into my DMs on Instagram @free_failing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever found yourself mentally high-fiving yourself because of that slightly cryptic Instagram post you put up? You know, the one strategically tailored for your ex or your long-lost BFF to see? Or that day you reached the pinnacle of boredom and decided to make an exclusive "Close Friends" list with a grand total of one member - your ex?

If you're nodding, well, we need to talk.

In this episode, your girl gets down and dirty with the complicated relationship we share with Instagram. Not just the addictive scrolling, but the less-talked-about passive-aggressive communication, the quest for validation, and the good ol' fashioned time sink.

From a deep dive into a personal tale of solitude, reinvention, and screen-time statistics (Spoiler: It’s in the double digits, people), to reflections on toxic relationships, join me as I peek behind the curtain of social media, unmask its impact on my mental health, and learn how to strike a healthy balance.

What does authenticity mean in a world of filters and face-tuners? It means showing the world that it’s okay to not have your life wrapped in a perfect bow. So, let's strive to put the 'real' back in 'real-time updates', shall we?

So remember, kids:

Not everything that glitters on the 'gram is gold. Keep that in mind next time you hit refresh.

For those brave enough to bare their social media souls, Jenni is here for you. Share your stories, or simply connect with me at jen.freefailing@gmail.com or on IG: @free_failing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.