Episode 3

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Published on:

23rd Feb 2023

(Maternal) Ambivalence and the Plague of Analysis Paralysis

In this month's discussion I explore the psychological experience of ambivalence through my own example of holding two very real and conflicting feelings about wanting to and not wanting to be a mother.

We cover the difference between ambivalence and indifference, and explore what it means to have the capacity to sit in the tension of holding opposing truths.

In a world that assumes there is always a right and a wrong, and that every decision we make must have some monumental significance to the grand scheme of our lives (they don't), it's an extraordinary struggle to live in what Carl Jung noted was the very natural state of the psyche, the ambivalent state.

I hope you enjoy the conversation, and I encourage you to reach out and share your own experiences with ambivalence. Where does this phenomenon trip you up in your own life? Can you make a decision not to make a decision?

Learn more about my work and how to go deeper at erikaleighraney.com

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About the Podcast

Again, but with Feeling
Essays and talks on consciousness, culture, and career.
What am I doing here? How am I supposed to feel about it? Why do I keep circling around the same themes no matter how much time I spend on my own evolution or how many leaps I take? Enjoy single-narrator audio essays written through the depth psychology frame, and casual talks on topics that traverse the realms of consciousness, archetypes, culture, and career.

Erika is a business strategist and executive coach of 15+ years, and recovering existentialist who teaches meditation and embodiment, with degrees in both political science and depth psychology. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Depth Psychology - Jungian and Archetypal Studies.
www.erikaleighraney.com

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Erika Raney

Erika has an M.A. in Depth Psychology and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Jungian and Archetypal Studies. She graduated from the UCLA Honors Program in Political Science/International Relations and holds teaching certificates in Vedic meditation, EMA somatic embodiment, and wilderness survival/experiential education. Erika has worked as an executive coach, producer, consulting CMO and brand and messaging strategist for more than 15 years across multiple industries, from tech and aerospace to wellness, gaming, and entertainment.