Today, we start with:
“Do you want to live a life where you continuously try to predict, micromanage, and anticipate the future?”
This is the tone of the first episode of Uncharted, together with Becky Henderson, who helps us break down the role of mental health and major life decisions during unprecedented times of financial crisis and pandemic.
We start by talking about the future. Yes. Yes, we know to stay in the present.
Still, unfortunately, the fear of the unknown is one of the most prominent icks, and Lauren, a 21-year-old from Austin, Texas, kicks off our podcast by talking about her anxiety tied to the misinformation around social media. She mentions, “I go on social media, and it’s like, oh…I’m going through all this stuff … well, now I have no hope.”
Natalie Peyton (podcast host) states, “I think that social media has so much misinformation, and I think it causes young minds to overthink and stress and try to figure it out.”
Social media concerns are prevalent in our society, a consequence of the fact that we have no education on how to tutor ourselves against the overuse of new technologies.
Our guest, Becky, intervenes by giving us an overview of where the concerns around the future may stem from; she points it down with two views: “Is life for me or against me? And then, how do I see myself? Essentially, do I see myself as capable of creating what is needed when it’s needed down the road? That is what is going to create how I speak of the future”.
In sum: “Am I going to live a life limited and restricted by circumstances?”
It all comes down to the power of The Self. How we look at life and read circumstances dictates our feelings and actions. Therefore, to succeed, we need to trick our brain and reprogram it to help us thrive in difficult situations. For example, choose to be happy and don’t look at social media when you wake up.
As Becky points out, happiness should be independent of circumstances. In other words, “happiness is not a place to get to; it’s a place to come from.”
In this episode, we also meet Neelesh, a 16-year-old boy who surprised everyone with his poise and maturity. He describes happiness as the freedom to do what you want to do. This is easy to say but hard to do, and again, life changes so fast that what made us happy yesterday does not make us happy today. But it always comes down to the way we look at things and are able to accept change in life as a good thing and not necessarily as a disruptive process.
“Growth is dependent on discomfort.” (Becky)
One of the topics in this episode is how the latest generations have moved away from discomfort and risk; we live in a very comfortable society, at least when it comes to Western societies, and this, as stated by Becky, puts us in a disadvantageous position of “conflict between a high need for safety and a low tolerance for uncertainty and risk, creating a very deep disillusioned generation.”
Now, this begs the question: Is Generation Z lazy? On this topic, we have Lola, a 22-year-old from Texas Austin, pointing out, “It’s all about mental health … I think that is a big part as to why people lack motivation, if you will, because internally they don’t feel like themselves … They don’t feel like they’re strong enough … when they can be as if they just need to be encouraged more”. Overall, it is clear that this generation has experienced a mental shift toward working on our emotions and “feeling the feels,” as Lola pointed out in her interview.
Leon Valstone (podcast host) says laziness is not an argument: “Gen Z are the most well thought through, brilliant kids I’ve ever met.”
Priorities have changed; in the past, they convinced us we had a path to follow, and everyone had a similar view on what that meant: a stable job, a car, a house, a career, a family, but today? What does it look like?
We often need to remember that to understand what we want, we must first figure out what we don’t want.
Join us on our journey.
Listen to Ep 1 of Uncharted with Becky Henderson here.
Becky Henderson is professionally trained in counseling, offers coaching services, and stays current on mental health issues and the laws and requirements for serving people who are going through personal life challenges. She is also the president and founder of Plenteous Life, a system of personal and professional development tools, coaching, and resources that support her clients in reaching their goals.
Natalie Peyton: Peyton studied theatre and film in Australia, New York and LA and performed stand-up on the “three coasts.” She honed her podcast executive skills over the last 4 years developing and producing dozens of podcasts and even hosts a children’s mindfulness bedtime program
Leon Vanstone: Leon brings his curiosity and sharp interviewing skills to the table, facilitating insightful discussions with our mentors, extracting valuable lessons and insights to empower listeners on their own path to growth and achievement.
Dan Dillard: Dan, with his thoughtful approach and engaging style, delves into the minds of our mentors on the podcast, crafting compelling interviews that uncover the wisdom and experiences driving their success and impact.
This blog was written by Anais Schmidt, one of the hosts of the Uncharted Podcast. Anais is also an aspiring musician. When not in her studio, she tours Europe with Monte Mai.
If you would like to join the conversation email us at anais@foundingup.com
Stay connected with us for the latest updates and stories of impact. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to be part of a movement that’s setting new benchmarks for success and collaboration.
But why stop at following? Dive deeper into our ecosystem by signing up on our website today. Your expertise could be the beacon that guides a young mind towards their calling, or perhaps, you’ll find the mentorship you’ve been seeking to catapult your ideas into reality.
Together, let’s create a legacy of innovation, mentorship, and success.
