The Best Mental Health Book That Changed How I See Myself

What do you do when you feel uninspired, creatively stuck, or disconnected from the person you want to be? Let’s chit chat about how to find inspiration again, reconnect with your creativity, and feel more motivated in your everyday life. If you’ve been feeling stuck in a rut or wondering where your spark went, this might give you a boost of inspiration. Tune into our self-love podcast to learn… Why feeling uninspired might have less to do with a lack of creativity and more to do with how you're approaching day-to-day life The surprising connection between dopamine, social media addiction, and your ability to feel inspired Why boredom might be the gateway to your creativity How to find inspiration in unexpected places, even when you feel stuck, unmotivated, or like you don't have the time, energy, or resources to pursue your creative interests

If you enjoy thoughtful recommendations that make you think, feel, and romanticize autumn, this one’s for you! In this fall favorites episode, I’m sharing what I’ve been reading, watching, and reaching for lately, from books that have changed how I think about friendship to the TV shows I’m obsessed with. Plus, a few self-care staples that are making fall feel warm and cozy. I also go off on tangents about female friendships, the beauty of connecting with strangers, fictional female characters, and why spending time together in person matters more than ever. I’m also sharing my feminist thoughts on East of Eden, my love for Ted Lasso, yummy cycle-syncing teas, my favorite lip liner, and the tea towels that are bringing a little extra charm to my kitchen. Mentioned In This Episode... How To Make Adult Friendships Easier with Kat Vellos on Mary’s Cup of Tea Bestie Break-Ups and Why Female Friendships Feel So Fragile with Danielle Bayard Jackson on Mary’s Cup of Tea Fighting For Our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women's Relationships by Danielle Bayard Jackson Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell Encounterism: The Neglected Joys of Being In Person by Andy Field East of Eden by John Steinbeck East of Eden limited series on Netflix Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ Cycle syncing teas by Tea Lady Brooklyn Espresso-colored lip liner by NYX Cosmetics The earplugs I sleep with every night Cotton & jute blend tea towels from Target The thermos I use every day Deepen your self love journey with Mary’s books: The Gift of Self-Love, an interactive workbook to help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself. 100 Days of Self-Love, a guided journal with 100 prompts for calming self-criticism and learning to love yourself. Follow Mary's self love journey on IG: @maryscupofteaa and @maryspodcast And if you’re enjoying Mary’s Cup of Tea, share it with the women in your life! Your support helps spread the gift of self-love!

Why is it so hard to receive love, even when we desperately want it? In this episode, psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Marisa G. Franco and I unpack the hidden side of self-worth: how our early relationships shape the way we see ourselves, why love can sometimes feel threatening, and why shame may be a bigger problem than insecurity itself. You will learn… Why we sometimes pull away from people who love us How your attachment style can shape your self-worth and the way you experience relationships Why being “secure” shouldn’t mean becoming perfectly healed, unbothered, or free of insecurity How you can work with memories to soften the way painful experiences affect your self-worth The science behind how therapy modalities like EMDR, EFT, IFS, and inner child work can heal childhood trauma Why emotional honesty and self-compassion may be more powerful than trying to suppress the parts of ourselves we don’t like

Being multi-passionate can challenge your confidence and sense of self. But what if having a million interests, ideas, and curiosities isn’t something you need to fix? In this episode, Mary explores why embracing your full range might be the key to greater confidence, creativity, and self-trust. Tune into our self-love podcast to learn… Why being multipassionate can make you feel behind What the Renaissance can teach us about curiosity, creativity, and refusing to be defined by just one area of expertise The woman Mary considers a modern-day example of embracing a wildly diverse range of interests What multi-passionate people need to thrive How bringing the different parts of yourself together can help you feel more whole Mary also shares advice for how to build a career and life as a multi-passionate person, from giving yourself permission to experiment to finding stability that allows you to take creative risks. She explores why transferable skills, connecting seemingly unrelated ideas, and making yourself more visible can unlock opportunities for multi-passionate people. Remember: You don’t have to choose one version of yourself in order to have confidence in who you are. Your curiosity, creativity, and seemingly unrelated interests might be the very things that make you uniquely you. Hopefully this episode will boost your confidence around being multi-passionate. Mentioned In This Episode... The Marginalian by Maria Popova: themarginalian.org No Bad Parts by Dr. Richard Schwartz Deepen your self love journey with Mary’s books: The Gift of Self-Love, an interactive workbook to help you build confidence, recognize your worth, and learn to finally love yourself. 100 Days of Self-Love, a guided journal with 100 prompts for calming self-criticism and learning to love yourself. Follow Mary's self love journey on IG: @maryscupofteaa and @maryspodcast And if you’re enjoying Mary’s Cup of Tea, share it with the women in your life! Your support helps spread the gift of self-love!

We all know what it feels like to be hard on ourselves, question whether we're good enough, or let someone else's opinion become our own inner voice. All of this comes down to self-trust. In this deeply personal conversation, three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn (!!!) and I talk about self-worth, perfectionism, creativity, long-term dedication to your craft, and the lifelong process of learning to trust yourself. Hilary shares what decades of performing have taught her about self-trust, quieting her inner critic, finding her own style, and staying connected to the parts of herself that exist beyond achievement. You will learn… How perfectionism can disconnect you from your creativity, and what Hilary has learned about letting go of the need to get everything exactly “right” Why self-worth cannot depend on awards, praise, or other people's opinions, and how to recognize the voices you've internalized What performing has taught Hilary about self-trust, presence, and getting out of your own head Why your imperfections may actually be part of what makes your work and your presence more authentic and human How to cultivate creativity by giving yourself time to think, experiment, process, and develop your own ideas What it means to stay committed to your craft Remember: Your self-worth does not have to be earned through achievement or perfection. Self-trust grows when you learn to listen to your own voice, recognize what you value about yourself, and give yourself permission to be fully human. Hilary Hahn is a three-time GRAMMY Award-winning violinist known for her expressive musicality, technical expertise, and curiosity both within and beyond the classical music world. She has commissioned and championed works by more than 40 living composers, while her recordings have earned some of the highest honors in the music world. She also created #100daysofpractice, a social media initiative that has transformed practicing into a community celebration of creativity and artistic development, with more than one million posts shared by performers and students. She currently serves on the string faculty at Juilliard and continues to perform, record, commission new works, and connect with audiences around the world. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with the women in your life! Or on social media! Be sure to tag @maryspodcast and @violincase.