Why Turning the Lens Inward Changed Everything

Welcome to the very first episode of Turn the Lens Inward. I’m Lisa Taylor, and in this episode I share why I felt called to create this podcast and who it’s truly for. I open up about my journey as a mother, a professional, and a woman who once felt completely overwhelmed by her relationship with her teenage daughter. I talk honestly about divorce, emotional dysregulation, mental health diagnoses, navigating limited resources, and the shame that so many parents carry silently. For years, I searched for solutions outside of myself. Eventually, I realized the most powerful work I could do was to turn the lens inward. This episode is about what that shift looked like, what it taught me, and why I believe change is possible even when things feel hopeless. If you’re feeling exhausted, scared, or unsure how to help your teenage or young adult child, this podcast is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why I created Turn the Lens Inward How divorce and family disruption impacted my relationship with my daughter What emotional dysregulation looked like in our home My experience navigating the mental health system How labels can help without defining your child The difference between control and true support What turning the lens inward actually means Why healing myself changed everything Chapters 00:00 – Welcome and Why This Podcast Exists 02:00 – When Life Looked Fine but Felt Empty 04:45 – Choosing Change and Its Impact 07:45 – Watching My Child Struggle 10:30 – Navigating the Mental Health System 13:45 – Labels, Diagnosis, and Fear 16:30 – Losing Control and Hitting Bottom 18:45 – Turning the Lens Inward 21:15 – Boundaries, Growth, and Healing 24:30 – Who This Podcast Is For and What’s Ahead ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, I invite you to subscribe and continue this journey with me. In future episodes, I’ll share personal reflections, practical tools, and conversations with other parents who are walking a similar path. You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s turn the lens inward, together.