104. Being Kinder to Ourselves and Others with Greg Atkinson
Carrie interviews Greg Atkinson, an entrepreneur, speaker and author, about the power of kindness.
Greg shares his personal journey and how forgiveness and kindness have played a pivotal role in his life. The conversation highlights the ripple effect of kindness and its power to make the world a better place.
Episode Highlights.
- How Greg Atkinson’s life experiences, including anxiety, inspired his commitment to kindness.
- The importance of forgiveness in fostering a kinder world.
- The significance of vulnerability and openness in sharing personal stories and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health.
- Practical ways to incorporate kindness into your own life and make a positive impact on those around you.
- Greg’s Book: The Secret Power of Kindness
Episode Summary:
Welcome to the Christian Faith and OCD podcast! I’m Carrie Bock, your host, and today’s episode features Greg Atkinson—an insightful speaker, author, and educator on mental health issues.
Greg recently authored The Secret Power of Kindness, a book that opens with a deeply personal account of his journey through trauma, mental health struggles, and ultimately, forgiveness. Greg shares how his experiences with sexual, verbal, and physical abuse shaped his life, leading to diagnoses of anxiety and bipolar disorder.
The central theme of Greg’s book is forgiveness—a process that has taken years of therapy and personal growth. He emphasizes that holding onto anger and bitterness can prevent us from living a kind and compassionate life.
Greg also discusses the impact of mental health in his life, from the physical symptoms of anxiety to the mental battles of catastrophic thinking. He highlights the importance of understanding mental illness, especially within faith communities, where there can be harmful misconceptions about anxiety and depression being purely spiritual issues.
Through his story, Greg aims to educate and encourage others to approach mental health with kindness, both towards themselves and others. His insights challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness and promote a more compassionate understanding within the church and beyond.
Join me in this episode as we explore Greg Atkinson’s journey of healing, forgiveness, and the power of kindness.
Related links and Resources:
The Secret Power of Kindness: 10 Keys to Unlocking Your Capacity to Change the World