What if the pursuit of constantly feeling good is actually keeping you stuck?
In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Dr. Emily Musgrove, clinical psychologist and author of Unstuck, to explore why feeling good isn’t the ultimate goal, and how living a values-aligned life leads to deeper meaning, connection, and fulfillment.
We unpack what it means to feel “stuck,” why it’s such a universal experience, and how the key to freedom often lies not in fixing ourselves, but in shifting how we relate to our inner world. From psychological flexibility and emotional avoidance, to mindfulness, masculinity, and the traps of performance culture – this conversation gets personal, practical, and deeply human.
Whether you’re navigating burnout, struggling with emotional pain, or just feeling a little lost in the noise of life, this one’s for you.
What we cover:
- What “being stuck” really means and why it’s not a sign you’re broken
- How emotional pain and avoidance drive disconnection
- The cost of always being polished and what happens when we let our guard down
- Cognitive fusion vs psychological flexibility
- Sneaky ways avoidance shows up in high-functioning people
- Why awareness is the first step toward change
- The difference between hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing
- How to clarify your values and start living in alignment with them
- The role of acceptance and responsibility in personal growth
- A simple step you can take today to start getting unstuck
You can connect with Dr. Emily Musgrove on Instagram @dremilymusgrove and learn more about her work at dremilymusgrove.com. For international listeners, her book Unstuck is available via this link through Penguin Australia.
- Intro (00:00)
- How Stuckness Manifests in Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviour (01:31)
- Willingness to Feel: Key to Moving Forward (03:57)
- Emotional Literacy and Gender Socialisation Differences (05:03)
- Reframing Stuckness: Not Broken, Just Human (07:38)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Overview (09:23)
- Psychological Flexibility: Changing Your Relationship to Thoughts (12:07)
- Childhood Conditioning and Adult Emotional Patterns (22:36)
- Perfectionism and Authenticity: Letting Go of the Mask (26:01)
- Cognitive Fusion and Avoidance: Barriers to Flexibility (29:19)
- Exploring Blame, Responsibility, and Relational Dynamics (34:13)
- Personal Health Crisis and Values Reassessment (36:56)
- How to Begin Identifying Your Core Values (39:38)
- Values Exercises: 80th Birthday and Beyond (41:12)
- Closing the Gap Between Values and Actions (44:04)
- Pain Acceptance: Reducing Struggle With Emotional Discomfort (47:34)
- Emotional Awareness: Tools for Daily Self-Attunement (54:02)
- Mindfulness: Practical Science for Self-Observation (01:02:00)
- Building Emotional Literacy Through Language and Body Awareness (01:07:20)
- Final Reflections: The Courage to Change and Feel (01:12:51)
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More about Dr. Emily Musgrove
Dr. Emily Musgrove is a dedicated clinical psychologist and mental health educator with a profound commitment to bridging academic insights with real-world application. She holds a combined PhD and Masters in Clinical psychology and owns and operates a private practice in Perth, Western Australia. Emily is also the resident psychologist on one of Australia’s most podcasts The Imperfects, where her ‘Emisodes’ delve into topics on mental health, like resilience, stress, emotion regulation, and positive psychology.
With expertise in psychological frameworks such Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based approaches, she synthesizes complex theories into accessible, actionable strategies for diverse audiences. Emily is passionate about fostering environments that normalize prioritizing mental health. Her work spans educational initiatives, including webinars, corporate speaking, podcasts, and social media content, designed to engage and empower individuals to cultivate a life that is worth living. Combining academic rigor with practical application, Emily’s approach is characterized by warmth, compassion, and a commitment to helping individuals navigate pain and challenge with greater choice, flexibility, and freedom
Emily has just released her first book Unstuck: A guide to finding a pathway forward to the life you want to live, in which she provides evidence-based strategies to help individuals break free from the patterns and behaviours that keep us stuck. Her book serves as an extension of her mission to empower others with practical tools for transformative, meaningful and lasting change.
