EPISODE 088 | Why You Can Stop Judging Yourself
Listen to Brendon Watt’s Story
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
About Brendon Watt’s Human Amplified Podcast Discussion
Last week on the show, we spent time with Washington state-based intuitive life coach and grunge rocker, Carrie Akre, where we learned all about self compassion through the lens of shadow work, using your intuition, and making decisions that are good for you even if they result in hard emotions coming from others. One of Carrie’s main ways of helping others is by not abandoning herself and by suspending judgement. And we’re really big on taking care of ourselves and suspending judgement here at Human Amplified.
So, it’s only fitting that this week we highlight, Brendon Watt, who has spent his life strengthening his ability to suspend judgement of himself, so he can embrace who he really is without giving up any parts of himself, regardless of external influences and projections.
Brendon is an author, internationally-acclaimed speaker, and relationships expert who says he used to be an outcast always trying to fit in.
In today’s episode, we dig deep into that feeling, that so many of us have, and how Brendon was able to embrace his differences and stop trying to be what everyone else wanted him to be.
He describes his childhood, gets real and transparent about struggling with addiction and the outpouring of support that has comes with being real and raw, and also realizing the power that we all have from surviving traumatic pasts.
We also spend some time thinking about how to deal with the power dynamic and struggles that come with trying to influence or control others into being what you think they should be or vice versa.
The bottom line is, you’ll leave today’s episode with empowerment.
You’ll know that you have the power to:
Fully embrace who you are, in all your differences that may not be considered “the norm”
Know your own truth
Make decisions to change things you don’t like about your life
Recognize judgement from others for what it is - and you’ll have to listen to find out what it is
Recognize judgement in yourself and what it feels like to take yourself away from being you, so you can stop doing that and start living more fully
Embrace vulnerability
And, you’ll come away from this episode knowing how to apply Brendon’s advice to big issues like coming out as lgbtq+ in complicated family situations and masking versus not masking or vaccinating versus not vaccinating.
As Brendon puts it, the world is changing. The future you want will not be based on the past version of you.
Behind the Scenes Look at Brendon and Brandi Discussing strength in vulnerability
Houston, TX-based, Australian public speaker, coach, and author, Brendon Watt, discussing his own struggles with vulnerability and what he’s learned about it. This is during his Zoom interview with Human Amplified show host, Brandi Fleck, for this episode that you can listen to at the top of this page or on your favorite podcast app.
The Highlights of Brendon Watt’s Interview on Human Amplified
Getting to know Brendon Watt
Hitting rock bottom
Why people try to fit in and think it’s important to do
Losing yourself at the expense of being “normal”
What’s “normal” and what’s “different”
Examples of how Brendon was different from others, involving being highly sensitive
The complexities of creating our self image that we project to the world while the world is projecting onto us
Brendon explores how an abusive relationship during his childhood shaped his lying to himself through an untrue self image
“Every time I would choose based on what was projected I should be, I was giving up a part of me.” That’s what a lot of us do.
The impact of social media
Taking away self judgement to recognize the strength we have within us
What judgement really is
How larger groups or organizations are able to have more control over our human lives than we do as individuals
Choosing empowerment through feeling light versus heavy
Continuing to make choices that are good for you even as you change
Not having to walk around in a constant state of having to protect yourself or pretend
Brendon’s experience of working on recovering from addiction while in the spotlight
How being real is freeing
Analyzing the phrase: “fake it till you make it”
The necessity of making choices and then course correcting as you go
Dispelling the struggle of vulnerability
Why nothing can destroy who we are
And how thinking you can be destroyed creates a victim mentality
Recognizing the power in surviving abuse or trauma
How Brendon has joy now
How to choose your authenticity in the face of big cultural repercussions or hard emotions from friends and family
Circling back to being transparent about addiction and alcoholism
The necessity of being brutally honest with yourself
Applying Brendon’s advice to current divides we’re facing on the planet of maskers vs. anti-maskers and vaxxers vs. anti-vaxxers
How judgement, separation, and control are involved in these divides
Striking a balance between doing what’s good for you and also doing what’s right for the collective
Defining consciousness and tying that to inclusivity
The world is changing - you’re future won’t come from who you were in the past
More About Brendon Watt
Brendon Watt is an author, speaker, and changer of realities with an outrageous demand for an ever-expanding life and a tenacious desire to change the world.
Brendon is a change and relationships expert and the co-author of Relationship: Are You Sure You Want One? with appearances in leading publications and national television including The Latch, 9 Honey, Channel 9, Fox Houston and Thrive, and Good Morning Washington.
While growing up, Brendon felt like an outcast, but spent his early years trying to fit into the expectations placed upon him to be a typical “Aussie bloke.” After spending decades conforming, he found himself broke and miserable - a self-confessed “loser” - living as a single Dad of a four-year-old child in his mother’s spare room. He asked the universe for a change, and soon after discovered the tools of Access Consciousness. Today, Brendon’s life looks completely different, and doesn’t attempt to fit into any definition of normal!
Brendon has investments across the world including a castle in Italy, biodynamic land development in Costa Rica, and an Antique Guild in Australia.
He is a leading facilitator and speaker with Access Consciousness, a global empowerment company in 176 countries.
Brendon is known worldwide for his intense kindness and awe-inspiring facilitation and has worked with thousands of people around the world using the tools of Access Consciousness to empower them to know that they are not wrong, anything is possible, and they are just one choice away from change. Find out more at https://www.brendonwatt.com/. Follow Brendon.
Brendon’s Links
You Might Also Like
On the Way, Not in the Way with Human Behavior Expert Dr. John Demartini
BONUS EPISODE 057: How to Reconnect with Yourself Using Six Helpful Habits
Pin Brendon Watt’s Empowerment Quotes for Inspiration
A Message from the Podcast Host
Note: This episode is timeless. However, in time, my promotions, offerings, and availability change. The same goes for guests. So, if the ads or offerings I mention in the episode are no longer available, you may not find them in the show notes at this time.
Popular Articles to Browse
Popular Podcast Episodes to Browse
CREDITS: INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC AND EPISODE EDITING BY RYAN SAULS. EPISODE PRODUCTION AND GRAPHICS BY BRANDI FLECK. SOUND EFFECTS FROM ZAPSPLAT.COM. MID-EPISODE MUSIC IS “DARK 'N' STORMY” BY SHANE IVERS AT SILVERMAN SOUND STUDIOS. BIO AND PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BRENDON WATT.
About Your Host
Brandi Fleck is a writer, artist, and a recognized communications and interviewing expert. She is also an avid student of human nature who’s overcome past trauma. She’s founder of Human Amplified, where she helps people embrace being their true selves so they can expand more fully into their own humanity without fear of being seen and heard. Brandi hosts the top-rated Human Amplified podcast (formerly the On Being Human podcast.) READ MORE