In short
Motherkind Podcast Episode Notes
Podcast Overview
- Title: The Motherkind Podcast
- Host: Zoe Blaskey
- Purpose: To provide support and insights for mothers navigating the challenges of modern motherhood, featuring experts in self-development and wellbeing.
Episode Details
- Episode Title: Moment | Why your guilt isn’t really yours
- Guest: Dr. Sophie Brock (Motherhood Studies Sociologist)
- Focus: Understanding guilt in motherhood and its origins.
Key Concepts and Discussions
Understanding Guilt in Motherhood
- Origin of Guilt:
- Much of the guilt mothers feel is not inherent but stems from societal expectations and the "shoulds" imposed by culture.
- The discussion emphasizes that these feelings are not reflective of a mother's true values or beliefs.
- Questioning Guilt:
- The episode encourages mothers to hold their guilt "up to the light" and analyze its source:
- Is the guilt derived from personal values?
- Or is it a product of societal pressures?
- 90% of motherhood guilt is linked to perceived obligations rather than genuine personal expectations.
Visual Analogy
The Guilt Guard
- Dr. Brock introduces the concept of the "Guilt Guard," likening guilt to a security guard on a mother's shoulder.
- Purpose of the Guilt Guard: To assess whether the guilt is beneficial or detrimental.
- Critical Questions:
- Who is the Guilt Guard employed by?
- Is it acting on behalf of personal values or external pressures (e.g., patriarchal standards)?
Empowerment Through Awareness
- Recognizing that guilt can sometimes serve a purpose, but the majority is often a product of societal conditioning.
- Encourages listeners to reflect on the alignment (or misalignment) of their actions with their true values.
Key Takeaways
- Reflection on Guilt: Mothers are urged to examine the roots of their guilt, fostering a sense of empowerment and self-awareness.
- Reinforcing Values: The importance of living in alignment with personal values rather than societal expectations.
- Call to Action: Listeners are inspired to let go of unnecessary guilt and redefine their understanding of motherhood.
Closing Thoughts
- The episode serves as a reminder that motherhood is a complex journey, and guilt does not define a mother's worth or capabilities.
- Zoe Blaskey encourages mothers to connect with the message, promoting self-compassion and awareness in their daily lives.
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Additional Resources
- Full Episode: Listen to the complete discussion with Dr. Sophie Brock for deeper insights.
- Connect with Zoe:
- [Instagram](#)
- Book: *Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations*
Sponsored Offers
- Wild Nutrition: 50% off for three months for women’s supplements.
- Indeed: £100 sponsored job credit.
- Calm: 40% off a premium subscription for mindfulness and relaxation.
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This markdown file encapsulates the core themes and discussions from the episode, providing an organized overview that highlights the key points and insights shared by Dr. Sophie Brock.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:03Hi, everyone, and welcome to this week's Motherkind moment. Thank you for being here. Thank Thank you for pressing play. This is your place on a Monday for calm connection and maybe even a shift in perspective before the crazy week ahead. This week's moment is with the brilliant Dr. Sophie Brock. She is a motherhood studies sociologist. She literally has the PhD in motherhood. And in this powerful clip, Dr. Sophie shares why so much of our guilt isn't ours at all. but it is driven by our societal expectations of what we think we should be doing. And that's where the guilt comes in. And the most important thing we have to do with guilt is hold it up to the light.
0:47Don't ignore it. Don't push away and say, do I feel guilty because I've stepped outside of my own values or, and I think this is 90 % of the guilt we feel, is it because I've absorbed these messages of what I think I should be doing. So challenge your guilt, question your guilt. And it's so powerful to be aware that I think 90 % of our guilt is driven by what we think we quote unquote should be doing instead of what we really want to be doing. So I hope you love this short clip. Here it is. Why motherhood hasn't changed yet. You know, we talk about the motherhood revolution. And one of the leading scholars in this field, her name is Professor Andrea O 'Reilly.
1:32And I asked her recently, do you think we're in a motherhood revolution? And she said, no, not yet. You know, we might not see that for generations. So that was interesting, but part of us being able to shift this means focusing on where we're reinforcing these ideals on ourselves. And most commonly that happens through mom guilt, not always sometimes guilt can be really valuable. But a lot of the time, the guilt that we feel is a result of our internalization and an external feeling of the pressure of the shoulds. And I visualize this because I kind of like using visual analogies as a little security guard on our shoulder.
2:12I talk about it as like the guilt guard on our shoulder. And for us to ask ourselves, who is that guard employed by? who are they working on behalf of? Where are they penalizing us? Where are they shooting on us? Are they working on behalf of my values? And actually sometimes I'm feeling guilt because I'm not living or practicing in alignment with what I do value. So that's important. Or is that guilt guard employed by patriarchal motherhood? Is that guilt guard employed by the people who are keeping that fish tank in place? You know, I use people symbolically. And once we ask that question, a lot of the time, the answer is actually the guild guard isn't employed by our values.
2:52And that can be where we start to question and shift how we experience guilt in motherhood.
From the publisher
Ever feel guilty no matter what you do, like you’re failing at something, somewhere, all the time? You’re not broken. You’re just living inside impossible expectations.
In this week’s Moment, Dr Sophie Brock, a motherhood studies sociologist (yes, she literally has a PhD in motherhood), shares why so much of our guilt isn’t truly ours at all.
Sophie explains that guilt often comes from the shoulds we’ve absorbed from society, not from our own values. The real power lies in holding that guilt up to the light and asking: Is this mine to carry, or something I’ve been taught to feel?
This short clip is a reminder that guilt can be a guide, but only when it serves you, not the story you’ve been told about what a “good mother” should be.
Listen, reflect, and maybe let a little bit of that guilt go this week.
If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: The Surprising Secret to Feeling Less Guilty and More Empowered with Dr Sophie Brock
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Connect with Zoe:
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This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
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