Investigative Selfism

This episode is a crossover between Investigative Selfism and my more political project, The Exploding Head.It's a crossover because it's about the heaviness that many of you might be feeling: the heaviness of existing in the world where crimes are being committed against my and your humanity continuously. And if you're following what's happening in Palestine, this is what you might feel every day.I invite you to acknowledge it, hold it with compassion, and continue taking action so that we don't have to live in this kind of world. I also invite you to check out my political commentary here: www.justinaposkeviciute.com

We can call it war propaganda (as we should), but we can also use another rather popular concept: gaslighting.This is what is being done to us on a global scale, as the U.S.-Israel war on Iran is being waged.That's why, if you're feeling something's very off, if you're feeling that you might be losing your mind if/when you watch the mainstream media, indeed, that is the point.I invite you to notice, point to, and reject this type of gaslighting. I invite you to respect yourself enough to refuse to allow this to be done to you.#mentalhealth #iran #israel #trump

In short, protect your kindness by reminding yourself not to bow down to fascists.Because being a safe space for those who dehumanise others will inevitably dehumanise you, too.#antifascist #solidarity #FreePalestine #Gaza #decolonise

The more we know, the more things can hurt. The more interconnected we are, the more there is for our hearts, minds, and souls to handle, inevitably.Yet if we have the capacity - that sometimes looks like a privilege, I know - to stand up, I invite us to do exactly that. #antifascist #FreePalestine #AbolishICE #solidarity #mentalhealth #collectivetrauma

This episode is a crossover between Investigative Selfism and The Exploding Head, my more political project. I've chosen to post my message in both because, in the end, it's about how we choose to show up in times that are extremely worrying globally.And because I think it can't be clearer that polite self-silencing, smallness, and not being unapologetically anti-fascist aren't serving us.Because even if we choose to engage with reality less, it remains the same: international law is left irrelevant because of our governments' bowing down to empires; fascism is on the rise globally (and very much present in the U.S); Israel is allowed to annihilate Gaza with complete impunity.The question is, how do we choose to show up in this reality?#AbolishICE #Venezuela #Trump #GazaGenocide #antifascist

Stillness can suck -- because sometimes, what comes out of it is not necessarily pleasant.I know we all know it intellectually, but I'm inviting you to actually create space for it at the end of the year and see what happens.See what needs attention.See what needs self-compassion.(I share my own "discoveries", very much related to what we've been witnessing in Palestine for the past years 💔).And also see what fires are burning there, burning away only what you are not.#gazagenocide #FreePalestine #mentalhealth #collectivetrauma #collectivegrief

It's painful: to choose to live a life that's not yours. To become someone else, for others. Not to live with integrity. Not to have the courage to speak out against mass atrocities. In the last episode of the fifth season of Investigative Selfism, I'm inviting you to smash self-abandonment.I also invite you to follow my political project, The Exploding Head, on social media and on any podcasting platform.#mentalhealth #freepalestine #antifascist #liberation #courage #Gaza #Palestine

In the end - holy shit - if genocide apologists have no shame of speaking out, why would you self-censor yourself when there's something you feel called to express?It's what I remind myself often. And it's definitely part of that work to uncover and start repairing my smallness.The conversation I mention in my video is here: https://bit.ly/430Fc2a

This is not a rhetorical question.It’s a question I’m inviting you to ask when Fascism is on the rise, our planet is on fire, gender conditioning is still strong (demanding half of the world’s population to center the comfort of the other half), and when we know that unexpressed anger will express itself in our bodies as an illness later in life.It’s a reminder, an invitation, and a call to action.Find it as a video here: https://youtu.be/AqV4Wr_Ek3c?si=dyotUb2ntYpLDXSD

I'm continuing the theme of my fifth season: an invitation to smash - completely, unapologetically - some concepts, habits, and patterns in your life. My second episode is about having the courage to admit that some people you might have praised are not worthy of your praise and loyalty anymore. And yes, I give some embarrassing personal examples here.

The fourth season of my podcast was about getting real about things. The fifth one is about smashing them. I start it with an embarrassing admission of my own ignorance and arrogance. The denial of my privilege. The desire to appear a certain way and simply denying reality. I invite you, once again, on this uncomfortable journey. We're in multiple crises at the same time; the sooner we decolonise our minds, the better for everyone (including ourselves).

In my closing episode of the season, I invite you to be honest with yourselves about what's occupying your head, heart, and soul. I don't mean the things we choose to carry unnecessarily. I mean the big, meaningful, and oftentimes heavy things. I also invite you not to push anything down but to create space for those states.

It was a combination of an unexpected tragic event that I witnessed recently and the continuous witnessing of Israel’s mass murder in Gaza that sparked this episode. In it, I share two reminders with you that can help when you’re navigating difficult times.One, it’s a reminder to give yourself some grace. Can you acknowledge that it IS a tough situation you never had to navigate before?Two, it’s a reminder that you still have your values and principles and ways how you want to show up in this world. You already have tools and you can always look for more.It’s what I need to remind myself every day. And I know that it’s so many of us witnessing genocide being unleashed onto Gaza have to do, too — to simply continue our lives but also to continue speaking out, according to our integrity.

It's difficult to see a population being destroyed.It's difficult to see acquaintances - and our leaders - express Fascist views.It's difficult to expect friends to speak out but not always get it.In short, there's a lot to process: both what's happening in Gaza and the world.For me, it took a long time to consciously allow myself to feel my heartbreak completely. And, honestly, I'm not sure I'm really there.But I'm here, sharing with you what I have 💔✊🏽Thanks for being in this community ❤️Justina#mentalhealth #trauma #collectivetrauma #grief #activism #Palestine #genocide #Gaza #FlourMassacre #gazagenocide #ceasefirenow 

Although this post might seem like a strong “You know, you should really…” it actually isn’t.It’s not a ‘should’ but an invitation to slow down for an hour or so and reflect on how you’d like your 2024 to be. Or, rather, how you would like to show up this year. Just the past five years, I’ve moved countries probably more than five times, changed my career completely and switched jobs four times, navigated a relationship and a breakup, and managed to do whatever else I was doing.As a political commentator, I’ve followed, written about, and got my heart broken over a number of issues.So I am not here to say “just plan your year and follow through”.I’m here to say that no matter how any year goes, with its endless unknowns, we still get to choose our intentions. And even if we don’t follow through on something, I’m still choosing to consciously decide what those (albeit potentially failed) projects will be.Most importantly, I’m choosing how I MYSELF want to show up, what qualities to bring, what to learn, and what – the hardest part for me – not to repeat.The rest? The rest is in my episode. I hope you take the time to listen to it and, more importantly, I hope you take that time for yourself. Happy 2024, Justina

I'm closing this year inviting you to explore the importance of feeling our emotions (including healthy anger) and not disregard what an alarming amount of research points to.The connection between suppressing healthy anger, the stress it creates on our immuno, neuro, and endocrine systems, and chronic illnesses that stem from that IS alarming.I'm inviting you to embark on the path that can save us all a lifetime of illnesses 🙏🏾

This is not an episode that contains "answers" -- but what I do want to do is to hold space for everyone struggling as a genocide in Gaza is unfolding. Through the guilt, shame, privileges, painful silence of friends, and other things to navigate, I invite you to both normalise not being OK and to move through it as you take meaningful action. As I say at the very beginning of my episode, we are allowed to talk about how we feel about something without that becoming the story. And, I would add, to CHANGE the story, we have to try our best to take care of ourselves and our community.

My fourth season is all about getting real, so this makes a lot of sense to ask: what are you really about? These past weeks have been extremely centering for many. I also noticed how many people who could be considered (and in some ways, they really can be) intellectuals seem to, in the end, stand for nothing. Your answer doesn’t have to be political like mine. But I do invite you to ask yourself: What do you stand for? Perhaps naively, I say sooo much clarity – and bravery to do what’s meaningful to you – stems from reflecting on exactly that.

As a political commentator who focuses on Palestine and a human, I have to say that the last month has been very tough. But it has also shown me something that I know many of us have to navigate: being very much imperfect people doing work that matters to us. I think to continue, self-compassion is a must, together with a very simple understanding that imperfections are (1) very subjective and (2) even if they're actually what we ourselves notice as something not ideal, still allowed. As I say in my video, I’m not glorifying practices that aren’t good for our health, saying “anything goes.” But a lot goes indeed into being complex and multi-dimensional people.

As a political commentator and a person, I know this week has been a very tough one for anyone following what's been happening in Palestine. That is, including myself. As I admit to you in my video, even I, the person who preaches about the importance of self-care and being mindful of our mental health, failed at many things this week. Hence, this reminder is very needed --- and I talk about something very practical and truly very small. Please take care of yourself - for yourself and for the world. Justina PS. What I forgot to mention in it is that – in addition to movement and connection – crying is an excellent way to release that stress, so if those tears are coming, remind yourself that that’s literally what your body needs.

Who we surround ourselves with is - it sucks to admit but science shows it's true - who we are in the end (well, not completely, but you know what I mean). So let's get real about what that circle is and how to make sure it's what truly supports and inspires us. The questions I’m inviting you to ask aren’t comfortable (but that’s the point): In short: yes, there is, but it all starts with that awareness (yep, can’t escape that one).I also share my stories that include both being in a small town and switching continents 👀 How is that circle, really?How do the people in your life make you feel?When you talk about ‘creating value’, what do you mean?And is there something you can consciously change? In short: yes, there is, but it all starts with that awareness (yep, can't escape that one).I also share my stories that include both being in a small town and switching continents:) Find the original video here: https://youtu.be/4D_wX7WFBWw?si=JIJDbHcY1fvJFSUf

I am very excited to be back and I've decided to make my fourth season all about GETTING REAL. It's about asking questions that are more uncomfortable, connecting the dots between the inner and the outer, and sharing a more authentic me with you. And you know, I start by doing exactly that: by telling you how I see Investigative Selfism and what bigger meaning it has in terms of my life mission. I'm also inviting you to continue on that uncomfortable journey of learning and unlearning. Because no matter how not fun it might be sometimes, what's REALLY not fun is never unlearning everything that has been installed in us like some outdated and limiting software.

I'm finishing the third season of Investigative Selfism and will be taking a short break until September. But I can't leave without saying something! I wanted to say a big THANK YOU for being curious, caring for yourselves, and taking the time to learn about the frameworks I was presenting to you here. Not everyone does it. Not everyone has a growth mindset and seeks knowledge that can actually make the navigation of life a little bit less hard. But you did it - yay, it's a big deal! My longer videos and podcast episodes will be back in September but I will continue sharing good stuff with you on Youtube in shorter clips, on Instagram, and on my website. See you there! Justina

You can never know how powerful a word of appreciation and encouragement can be.So why whyyyy would you hold back? Especially when you mean it. Choose to be that caring and encouraging friend. That's it! That's the gist of my quick episode. Choose to empower your friends ❤️ The whole third season of my podcast is about empowerment and since there's only one video/podcast episode left before I go into a quick break in August, I thought it would simply be incomplete without reminding you of this: YOU have the power to encourage others.YOU have your sphere of influence.YOU can choose to empower your loved ones, just like you'd like to be pushed. So please please please, don't think of compliments and words of encouragements as of some finite resource.Use them when they feel genuine. Be an active participant in your own life -- including affecting the ones around you. Find this episode as a video on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/CnMa6Lvkixs

I can't say my third season is on the topic of empowerment if I don't address one major part of it: our physical health. Why? Because no matter how important it is to manage your thoughts (and I talk about ALL THE TIME), you simply can't intellectualise yourself into health. "Health" is super broad, I know. But this is where the good news is: there are SO many areas you can choose to explore and learn about. In my episode, I explain why, according to science, it's important and what those broad categories can be. You can also find strong podcast recommendations (by doctors and scientists) here: https://bit.ly/3PJgcGt

I start with a ridiculous story from my weekend of a kayaking experience that didn't go exactly as planned. But what my episode is on are six learnings/reminders that I've extracted from it and want to share with you. Why? Because how we FRAME our experiences is so so so important. And especially experiences that we choose to call challenges. I give you examples in my episode, yes, but you can also find my guide on how to quickly (re)frame your challenges here: https://bit.ly/42wL3J1 Find this episode as a video on my Youtube channel here: https://bit.ly/3CNyTkt

I must admit that it's been difficult for me to find healthier ways to navigate social media.Interestingly, it's not so much about consumption but my own desire to appear a certain way --- does that resonate with you? If it does, and if you've ever wondered how you're appearing on different platforms or how you'd LIKE to appear, please please watch this. Thankfully, there are much better ways to see social media than running the risk of losing our authenticity in this navigation process. That's what I share in my episode, including pointing to a beautiful interview you can find linked in my article: https://bit.ly/3N4FNXm

If someone asked you why you should invest in yourself, what would you say? Why do the work of personal development, healing, empowerment, or however we choose to call it? I have a pretty damn complete answer to that question. I mean, it makes sense, since my whole Investigative Selfism project is very much about that.And even if YOUR answer is different, I'm sure that mine will be a reminder that you always need to hear.⁣Please watch it and share it with others who need to hear this. Also, explore my platform in the link below and sign up to receive a free guide I've just made for you! https://bit.ly/37wK95Q

I come from a very judgemental background: lots of passive aggressiveness, patronising comments, and body-shaming -- just to name a few cultural tendencies. ⁣⁣So I myself had a choice: either normalise and practice it or consciously reject it. And oh my there are plenty of benefits of inspecting that judging mind!⁣⁣ Putting a conscious effort to judge less becomes so much more than just about "being nice". In fact, it's not about being nice at all (although it's a good side effect!). In my episode, I talk about why judging less becomes about self-compassion and healing in the end.

Can we truly grow if we're rejecting certain parts of ourselves, denying certain experiences, or holding onto shame? Unfortunately, that's not what different disciplines say. So if we want to talk about empowerment- which has been the topic of my third podcast season - we have to talk about own our life story in a way that's healthy and involves a lot of self-compassion. But we also have to identify the potential dangers that we might find on the way. That's what I do in my episode! I also share a personal story as a cautionary tale of over-identification with certain experiences. I think you'll love it. More importantly, I think you'll find a lot of inspiration for reflection.

When do you feel strong? When do you feel most like yourself? When does your life "make sense" to you? When do you feel proud of who - and how - you are?I'd say, these are excellent questions to ask if we want to lead lives of authenticity and courage. Empowerment has been the umbrella topic of my whole third season and I have talked about it a lot. Now, what does it mean TO YOU? Watch this as a Youtube video here: https://youtu.be/3PkaN67mpC8https://youtu.be/3PkaN67mpC8

Have you ever reflected on what courage means to you? I'd say, to lead a life that's authentically ours, sometimes (always?:) we need to engage in active reflection - and take conscious action - towards the kind of person we want to be. But let me explain it in my episode!

Why do we take some things personally and others not? What can help us to go deeper and let this burden down? This is no easy task. And how deep you want to go with this work depends on how willing and how equipped you are to do it.In my episode, I present four suggestions: four reminders, questions, and invitations to go increasingly deeper into this work: “What A says about B says more about A than it says about B” Is it really worth my time? Maybe it’s true? Can I get curious here? Why is this triggering me? Can I explore it using a lot of self-compassion? Please watch it and see what works for you. I hope you choose to do the work. It’s never easy but it’s always worth it.

To say "I'm a perfectionist" might not be as cute as you thought. Why? Because there is one meaning of this word that is extremely unhealthy. But only if we never learn about it. So learn about it in my quick episode and find resources on fear management here:  http://bit.ly/3XkVfBU 

There are many ways to define empowerment and any progress toward being the authentic and intentional selves matters. But is there something else? Is there something we can put the work to uncover that would help us move forward in significant ways? I think there is.  I don't know what it is for you and I don't know where that healing lies. But I want to invite you to embark on that journey as it can only be rewarding.

Do we think we have the capacity to change? And if we do, what would that look like? If you said YES to the first question, you might have what is called a growth mindset. It's a simple yet empowering concept that can help us shed more light on how we are showing up in this world and how to close a gap between how things are and how we'd like them to be. Learn more about it in my episode, including a couple of questions for a powerful reflection. 

If we're basing our growth on something, let's make sure it's not destructive. And that's exactly what shame is!  In my episode, I explain the difference between shame and guilt, why shame is not your friend, how we can approach shame, and what's a healthier base for us to base our growth and learnings on.  In short, shame is not a good house for us to live in. There are much better environments we can choose for ourselves.  

Why would we ever do anything, including work on ourselves? I believe that behind any investment in ourselves we find three ideas that can continue moving us forward in times of good and bad. These ideas might seem simple -- but to truly believe in them requires a lot of work. And reminders, like this episode! You can also watch it as a video on my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/7iS_3F7FYpo

"Just have better problems!" would be arrogant - and ignorant "advice" to give to anyone. That's why it's not what my episode is about. It's about reframing certain challenges in our lives in ways that are more empowering. As we do that, we can see that some challenges are "safer" (more familiar) than others. Behind the safe challenges what we often find are higher-quality problems: the ones that bring more meaning into our lives. This is what my episode is about. And this is what I'm wishing for myself and all of you: to have better problems!

It’s so easy not to be in tune with ourselves. To keep on running without ever giving ourselves credit for the meaningful ways in which we’ve changed and without setting the intention of our own growth. Let’s not do that. As I’m recording this in December, I’d like to invite you to take the time completely for yourself to reflect on how this year has been. What are your learnings? What were your discoveries? How did you show up in your relationships? And how do you want to go into the next year? When we bring the unconscious to the surface, not only do we better understand ourselves but we equip ourselves to make better choices about our own lives. I hope you see yourself as important enough to take the time and engage in this work. You can also watch this as a Youtube video (and see me speak, yes:) here: https://youtu.be/ZE9-7LWYixg

What we choose to put into our precious minds is no joke. That doesn't mean there is no place for entertainment and anything playful here. Yet what we choose to consume and what people we spend time with can influence our focus, our emotional state, our habits, and so much more.  In my short episode, I invite you to take your well-being seriously and inspect what you allow into your mind.   Not because it's a grim duty but because YOU - your life, your emotions, your thoughts,  and your dreams - matter. You can also watch it as a video here: https://youtu.be/Y8DdjpbaIZY

If your family can be called functional, congrats – statistically, you’ve won a very important lottery! If not – like me – you might need to put some work in when spending time with your folks. In my video, I present four quick points that can serve as reminders for ourselves when spending time with family:  It's a test for our patience and mindfulness, It's an opportunity to check how our boundaries are doing, It's a chance to see how compassionate we can be with the one who we might not like so much, and It's a reminder of what we don't want to pass on and an encouragement to do the work needed.  It's not our fault what happened to us and to our extended family that shaped us in certain ways. But it's our responsibility to learn how to deal with situations that are potentially unpleasant and unlearn what has been unwillingly passed onto us. If not with us, when will it stop, right? Watch this as a Youtube video here: https://youtu.be/MqPEyfGtx58

Don't get me wrong: our values, dreams, and mission ARE to be taken seriously. Yet we don't have to choose to bring grimness to our journey. It's easy to get entangled in everything we do, only to forget that it's supposed to be light -- and that it should bring us joy, right? Personal development, self-knowledge, healing... Even when the path is hard and the challenges are real, we can choose to bring some silliness to all this. IT'S ALLOWED! :) To watch it as video, please go to my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/yOkB1TRxArQ 

How do less drama and more meaning sound? You might have heard the saying “choose your battles.” Although it can be deconstructed in many ways, what it means is an invitation to choose where we’re putting our time, energy, and emotional labour. What I do in this episode is give you four points that can serve as more specific frameworks for us to assess a situation – or…our way of being! – to decide whether something IS indeed a battle worth choosing. These points are: – checking our egos (ouch) – getting some perspective in – addressing our codependent tendencies – identifying and aligning with our mission and values. I think this is so important in the broader context of empowerment (which is the topic of the third season of my podcast). Why? Because only when we choose those battles wisely and learn not to invest ourselves into what’s trivial, unhealthy, or just not what we’re about we can make time and space for what truly matters, right? Find resources on codependency on my website: www.investigativeselfism.com 

Can we take the spark of a certain extraordinary experience and bring it to our regular lives? I think it's not easy but it is, thankfully, possible. For me, that experience is definitely travelling. It is something that has shaped me immensely and has enriched my life in ways I could never imagine. But what is it about it that changes the way I am? In this episode, I share my thoughts with you on exactly that and some suggestions on how we can "extend" that experience when we're not technically in it anymore.

When we talk about empowerment, let's not forget one huge source of it: our friends! Be it their struggles, the way they're navigating their lives, any major changes they're going through, or their openness about their journeys. Let's listen to them and let's give them credit. Because it's very easy to move through life without ever doing that. It's not all about famous teachers, therapists, and other personas. It's also about the ones closest to us.  

The concept of empowerment is much more than how to keep ourselves motivated and work on our confidence. It's about the tools we have to live more fully, to know how to face challenging situations and navigate complex issues. That's why it is the topic of my whole third season! There is just so much to cover! The second season of Investigative Selfism podcast focused on discomfort: how we can normalise it, reframe it in a healthier way, and move through it. Now, it only makes sense to extend this topic into empowerment itself. Let's do this! And thank you for being on that important journey of self-knowledge, or, as I call it, investigative selfism!

“Why don’t you tell the kids about your prison experience?” Wait, what? It’s a sentence you might not hear often. Unless you’re me and you’re kindly asked to talk about politics to students once in a while. In my podcast episode, I mention this story briefly and I’ll link to it in a second. But what I talk about in it is how discomfort oftentimes is a price we have to pay for the lives we want to live. They don’t have to involve politics or prisons, but it’s good to know that “a good life” will probably never mean zero discomfort. So we either try to avoid it or normalise it and see it as the price we pay for a life of integrity. Before I proceed, my abovementioned prison story – in a more humorous form – here, while the reasons why that story happened lie in parts of my political project.

“Happy 2-year COVID anniversary!” I thought to myself recently. And decided to do a quick episode on it. If my second season is all about discomfort, who can deny that COVID has been one uncomfortable experience? In this episode, I do reference a piece on COVID learnings from a year ago and promise you to share my resources on boundaries. You can find them here: https://wp.me/p1WQjD-Mo

Since my whole second season is on discomfort, it’s time for an important reminder. Taking care of ourselves when we’re moving through discomfort is not a luxury. We can live without luxuries but we can’t go on if we’re constantly burned out. Here’s my reminder on why it’s important to be kind to ourselves when things are tough and how certain things that seem unimportant become the base for us to go on from. In this episode, I share a personal story, give some small examples of what we can do to prioritise our health, and as promised, here are some resources – more reminders and actual tools! – that you can check out: https://wp.me/p1WQjD-Mh