In this conversation, Leila Ainge discusses the importance of mental flexibility and resilience, particularly in the context of running and personal growth. She emphasizes the need to navigate self-doubt and challenges without succumbing to societal pressures for transformation. Leila advocates for starting from one's current position and using existing skills as a foundation for growth, rather than striving for a complete overhaul of oneself.

takeaways

• Flexibility of thinking is crucial for overcoming challenges.
• Mental resilience can be developed through activities like running.
• Self-doubt is a common experience, especially in a transformation-focused society.
• It's important to recognize the societal pressures on women regarding self-improvement.
• Transformation doesn't always mean complete change; start where you are.
• Using existing skills can serve as a springboard for growth.
• Staying in uncomfortable spaces can lead to clarity and understanding.
• Mind tricks can help maintain perspective during difficult tasks.
• The idea of transformation can often be misleading and burdensome.
• Practicing self-acceptance is a form of defiance against societal norms.

Transformation stories are everywhere—before-and-afters, glow-ups, success arcs. But what if real self-love isn’t about reinventing yourself—but about being present where you are, without pressure?

This episode unpacks how social media, self-help culture, and gendered resilience narratives push us toward self-optimization at the cost of self-acceptance. We explore the psychology of storytelling (McAdams, 2001), the feminist critique of the "bounce-backable woman" (Gill & Orgad, 2018), and why emotional smoothing shapes how we retell our past.

If you’re ready to stop waiting for the ‘perfect’ story and start sharing where you are, this one’s for you.

Connect with Leila online at www.leilaainge.co.uk and subscribe to her newsletter for psychological insights direct to your inbox. to sign up for the FREE Webinar, head to www.leilaainge.co.uk

Psychologically Speaking is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, host Leila Ainge sits down with Katie Cope, founder of Keppel Leopard Creative, to explore the intricate world of brand identity, storytelling, and the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs. Katie shares her journey from redundancy to building a branding agency that empowers women to embrace their authentic selves in business.

The conversation dives into the psychology behind branding, the pressures women face in professional spaces, and how societal norms influence personal and business identities. Katie also reflects on her multicultural background, her unexpected career path through animation and TV production, and how creative problem-solving has shaped her approach to branding.

Key topics include:

• The power of brand storytelling and personal identity.
• Challenges women entrepreneurs face in professional branding.
• The balance between authenticity and professionalism in online spaces.
• How Katie’s diverse cultural and career experiences inform her work.

This episode is packed with insights on confidence, personal branding, and the psychological barriers that shape how we present ourselves to the world.

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge delves into the themes of human behavior, accountability, and personal growth. She reflects on her experiences with goal setting and introduces a new pod feature, a book review, looking at Neurodiversity Coaching, emphasizing the importance of clean language interviewing in coaching practices. The episode encourages listeners to explore their past selves and consider how they can apply those insights to their current challenges.

In todays episode I’m chatting to Tessa and Bre who, discuss their research at the University of California Santa Cruz, on body doubling, how folk – especially those with ADHD, use it as a tool for productivity and social interaction. Our conversation looks at the benefits of body doubling, its community-driven nature, different types of body doubling and of course cyber, the role of technology in facilitating these interactions.

Leya Breanna Baltaxe-Admony is a technologist and researcher focused on advancing assistive and healthcare technologies. She has a multidisciplinary background in robotics engineering and human-centered design approaches. She recently graduated with a PhD in computational media from the University of California Santa Cruz, where her dissertation explored equitable engineering and design methods for collaborative development with disabled communities.

You can find Bre on the internet @leyabreanna

Tessa Eagle is a researcher specializing in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and neurodivergent communities. Her research draws from Critical Disability Studies to study online support systems for neurodivergent individuals and push back on neuronormative technology research and healthcare practices. Her expertise lies in driving user-centered design by deeply understanding and engaging with the needs of diverse communities.

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge explores the intricate relationship between accountability and motivation through the lens of self-determination theory. She shares her personal journey of goal setting in running, emphasizing the importance of social support and relationships in achieving personal goals. The discussion highlights the psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and how they interplay with accountability. Leila encourages listeners to reflect on their own accountability networks and the role these connections play in their success.

"Snails, Distractions, and the Neuroscience of Drift"

In this episode, we explore the surprising connection between spontaneous thoughts, and achieving your goals. Leila delves into how distractions and daydreaming can fuel creativity and productivity. Whether you're tackling New Year’s resolutions or just trying to stay focused, discover why mind-wandering might be the secret to success—and how to embrace it without getting lost in negative rumination. Plus, a tale of erratic gardening, greenhouse adventures, and tips for starting fresh with curiosity and spontaneity.

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge explores the unique psychological phenomena surrounding the liminal space between Christmas and New Year, discussing how our perception of time shifts during this period. She delves into the relationship between memory and goal setting, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual differences in how people visualize time and set goals for the new year. Through research insights, she highlights the significance of writing down goals and the impact of memory on our future planning.