The Path to Getting Unstuck | Britt Frank (ep. 578)

SHOW NOTES:

• From stuck to go: Britt reminds us that it’s not laziness, craziness, or lack of capacity but instead real mechanics that get us stuck.
• It wasn’t until Britt developed disordered eating, drug addictions and chaotic and damaging relationships patterns later in life that she realized the trauma she endured as a child.
• “I felt like I got sent out of the human factory with pieces missing.”
• “I understand the appeal of being told what to do so you can feel finally like you belong somewhere.” Expecting an instant access to family, connection and belonging, Britt joined a religious cult that she soon learned was not sustainable.
• Britt reminds us that disordered eating, drug addictions and other behaviors are always about unaddressed pain and an injury that has been left so profoundly unattended that our systems adapt by finding ways.”
• Rock bottom doesn’t have to be the extreme. Britt defines “rock bottom” as when you say, “I’m done” and start doing things differently.
• Be truthful about yourself for yourself.
• Instead of being fearful of our “intrusive thoughts”, Britt encourages us to skillfully lead our inner teams.
• “Why is there a gap between what we know and what we do? Because we’re at war with ourselves.”
• Micro-yesses: A series of tiny yeses builds a life.
• “Anxiety is a superpower. Without it, we stay stuck. Madness need not be all break down. It may also be break-through.” – Britt Frank and R.D. Liang
• If you’re dealing with anxiety, don’t ask “why”, ask “what”. What am I willing to say yes to? What are my choices?
• Britt finds that most people don’t want to know why they’re stuck but how to not be stuck.
• To illustrate the idea that there’s no such thing as “crazy”, Britt calls upon the “spiderweb analogy”.
• Shadow intelligence is a  measure of the relationship we have with our imperfections, triggers, and unconscious content.
• “You can’t think your way out of being stuck.”
• “An explanation is not an excuse of a behavior.”
• “You can’t change anything about your past but you can change everything about your future when you understand how your brain processes the present.”
• Get a copy of Britt Frank’s The Science of Stuck here.

Did you enjoy today’s conversation?

You’ll love my conversation with Jeff Henderson.  Jeff Henderson is an expert at taking the next right step when life is uncertain. Learn the difference between success and excellence as Jeff outlines how to reduce the risk yet not be bounded by fear in a season of change. Listen to Jeff Henderson on ep. 490.