Working with Your Own Crazy & Trauma Towards Self-Acceptance, Self-Compassion, Love, and Appreciation for All with Dr. Grant H. Brenner

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to speak with Physician-Psychiatrist Dr. Grant H. Brenner co-author of “Making Your Crazy Work For You: From Trauma And Isolation To Self-Acceptance And Love” with Mark B. Borg, and Daniel Berry about not only individual and collective trauma and the path to posttraumatic growth, meaning, and wisdom but also the importance of being open to new experiences, learning, and finding, discovering and/or rediscovering one's own unique voice along the path.

We cover a whole range of themes and topics, including the drive and restlessness of Generation X, the strive for perfection and one’s attachment style to the workplace, and the continuous quest for work-life balance amidst shifting identities and doing what one loves and enjoys. We also discuss the importance of give-and-take dynamics and how open-mindedness should not be marked by rigidity but rather needs to include, embrace, and foster flexibility.

Finally, we look at being quirky and the positive and creative sides of being “crazy” in the sense of pursuing passions and “weird” in the sense of being innovative and doing one's own thing. Creativity has been a staple in both of your lives and has often come from experiencing previous suffering and hardship, which pushes one to overcome negativity, seek meaning, wisdom, compassion, and positivity, and help and support those less fortunate than oneself.