“One of the metaphors that I use is imagining guilt is a faulty check engine light on your car dashboard. Your car has just been serviced, the oil is changed, everything's fine, but the stupid light just keeps going off. It doesn't actually give you any meaningful information, so you can ignore it. You can just say it's broken. Guilt is not a moral compass.”
Dr. Pooja Lakshmin is a clinical psychiatrist in Austin, Texas, specializing in women's health. She's also an assistant professor of psychiatry. During our discussion, we talked about how she differentiates between faux self-care and real self-care, including the obstacles women face internally and externally, and to overcome them. We also discuss how real self-care can help women live lives that are more authentic and more audacious. And Pooja shares her insights about how self-care can help women find their spark and protect it throughout their lives.
What you’ll find in this conversation:
She talks about her disillusionment with the practice of psychiatry and mainstream medicine.
Being raised in a patriarchal society.
How she identifies her spark.
How toxic and “faux self care” from the wellness industry actually harms us.
The four principles of real self care.
How guilt stops women from setting boundaries.
How to practice real self care.
For more inspiring conversations like this one, be sure you’re a subscriber to my Substack, Playing With Fire.
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