351 — How to Build the Self-Worth You Need to Feel Good Enough (Without Faking It, Affirming It, or Achieving It) With Dr. Marisa Franco
Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy MorinShow Notes
Have you ever finally gotten something that you thought would make you feel worthy, like a degree or a promotion, and you still felt like you weren't good enough? Or maybe when someone gives you a genuine compliment, you feel worse instead of better.
My guest is Dr. Marisa Franco, a psychologist, professor at the University of Maryland, and New York Times bestselling author. And she says we've been lied to about what really builds self-worth. But the good news is, once we learn the truth, we can all increase our self-worth without achieving more.
Some of the things we discuss are:
Why compliments and success can actually feel threatening when you're struggling with self-worth
The difference between the two kinds of high self-esteem (and how to tell which one you actually have)
Why "I only date secure people" misses how humans actually work — and the case for being "secure-ish" instead
Why memories are the "database of self-esteem" — and how the brain uses your past to predict your future
How to go back to a painful memory and give your younger self exactly what they needed
Why you don't have to remember what happened to heal past wounds
The three-step framework to try the next time you feel bad about yourself
Healthy ways to handle hard feelings
The Therapist's Take: My top three strategies for building real self-worth starting today
Related Episodes
219 — Stop Hating Yourself: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reclaiming Your Worth with Dr. Blaise Aguirre
104 — What Your Sentimental Keepsakes Reveal About Your Self-Worth
Links & Resources
Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment
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