Episode 28: The Pain of Performing For Others and How to Claw Your Way Out with Toni Collier

On today’s episode of The Best of You podcast, I’m talking with the wonderful and wise Toni Collier who shares bravely about finding herself stuck in the performance trap, and how she clawed her way out.

Toni's capability & high capacity helped her survive, but she also wound up exhausted, broken, and numbing.

As Toni says, “I had a source, which is God, but the resources I did not have.” And she had to learn to discover a more authentic, wholehearted way.

Here's what we discuss:

1.  How capability, strength, and achievement can turn into survival strategies

2. Why we turn toward numbing as a way to cope with pain

3. What finally drove her to get help 

4. How she started to find healthy relationships and find her way out of the pain

5. Practical ways she keeps the performer part of her in check now

6. What she would say to her young performer's heart now

(Be ready for some tears on this one. . .)

Check out Toni’s new book, Brave Enough to be Broken anywhere books are sold.

Thanks to our sponsor: Organifi —Go to www.organifi.com/bestofyou and use code BESTOFYOU for 20% off your order today!

Find a list of resources and the full transcript for this episode here.

Music by Andy Luiten 

Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik

While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. 

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