316. Cultivating Psychological Flexibility: A Mother's Guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

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Psychological flexibility transforms how we mother and mature. I welcome psychologist Jill Stoddard to explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help women navigate anxiety, stress, and the challenges of parenting with more significant presence and authenticity.

• Understanding psychological flexibility as being present, being open to internal experiences, and making value-aligned choices.
• Learning that values are how we appear in life—not feelings, outcomes, or others' behaviors.
• Recognizing avoidance patterns: The Doer, The Hider, The Compulsive, The Thinker, and The Otherer.

• Practicing mindful willingness through simple exercises like changing hand positions or breathing techniques.
• Breaking the cycle of resistance with the mantra: "This is uncomfortable, but it's just a feeling. It is not dangerous; it is temporary, and I can handle it."
• Distinguishing between acceptance of internal experiences (ACT) and radical acceptance of external reality (DBT).
• Finding ways to apply ACT principles during challenging parenting moments with young children.

Take the quiz to discover your avoidance pattern at jillstoddard.com/quizzes and explore Jill's books "Be Mighty" and "Impostor No More" for guided exercises on developing psychological flexibility.

Be sure to check out Jill's "Two-Minute Tips" on Substack.

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