Kidless
Feb 5, 2022
Aging with Zero Grace
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After last week's photo op (for the podcast thumbnail) gave Ashley a distorted sense of her face, she obsessed about aging all week. We discuss different facets of aging and how we're thinking about it right now.
Reach out if so inclined:
IG: @ashley.mason.cmhc
More episodes from Kidless
Jun 19, 2022
False v. True Self
This week we explore the concepts of False Self and True Self, as defined by that book we've been referencing lately. While of course we all intuitively have a sense of those definitions as they apply to ourselves, we try to explore the concepts more deeply. We specifically discuss examples of how we've operated from a false self place by prioritizing others' rules and expectations over our own, but we also talk about growing into more true self expression, even if it makes our lives messier sometimes. These concepts are also applied to the choice to remain kidless.
Resource: Comprehensive Dictionary of Psychoanalysis by Salman Akhtar
IG: @kidless_pod
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Jun 12, 2022
The Necessity of Mourning
A discussion on mourning. We discuss: 1. The role of mourning in human life. 2. How mourning can be applied narrowly (a death) or broadly (all losses and changes, big and little). 3. It's necessary for peaceful passage through life. 4. How idealization of what was lost can prevent mourning and therefore peaceful passage through life. 5. Ashley hurts Eric's feelings early in the show, which is discussed toward the end and helps us get to a final part of the discussion: 6. If you make a choice, and you feel sad once the choice is made, that doesn't mean you've made the wrong decision. You're not a robot. Let yourself feel it.
**One thing we didn't say in the episode: Even if you're sad after choosing to not have children, it doesn't mean you've made the wrong decision. You have to let yourself acknowledge the path you didn't take and what it means so that you can be open to what blessings you will receive.
We tried to use as many examples from our lives as we could think of. Hope you find this helpful.
Resource: Comprehensive Dictionary of Psychoanalysis by Salman Akhtar
IG: @ashley.mason.cmhc
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May 1, 2022
Nostalgia: Fact? Fiction? Fantasy?
This week we tackle this definition of nostalgia: "Nostalgia is a mixed affective state of pain and joy associated with the wish to recapture an idealized past. Pain is evoked by the awareness of separation from old objects (people) and joy by a fantasized reunion with an idealized version of them through reminiscences."
We use our own experiences and those of some celebs like Leonardo Dicaprio to think about this concept.
Find Ashley on IG: @ashley.mason.cmhc
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