EP 81: The Psychology Behind Why We Feel Stuck| Dr Emily Musgrove (The Imperfects)

Have you ever felt stuck but couldn't quite explain why — or felt like you were doing all the right things but still felt deeply unsatisfied? In this episode, I sit down with Dr Emily Musgrove, clinical psychologist, author and resident psychologist on The Imperfects podcast, to explore the psychology behind why we feel stuck, what we're really searching for beneath the surface, and what it actually takes to build a life that feels meaningful rather than just successful. Emily brings over 15 years of clinical experience and a refreshingly honest perspective — including her own experience of a breast cancer diagnosis that completely reframed how she thinks about resilience. We get into the difference between belonging and fitting in, why people pleasing quietly costs us our identity over time, what the research says about meaning versus purpose, and the one psychological skill Emily believes every leader needs above all else. Key Topics What resilience actually means and why it has nothing to do with holding it together The difference between belonging and fitting in and why fitting in is exhausting How people pleasing quietly erodes your sense of self over time Why feeling stuck is not a problem to fix, it's a signal to pay attention to The difference between meaning and purpose and why purpose doesn't have to come from work The one psychological skill Emily says every leader needs: curiosity Show Notes Emily's Book is Unstuck: A Guide to Finding Your Way Forward to Live the Life You Want to Live — https://www.penguin.com.au/books/unst... Instagram: @dremilymusgrove Join Emily's mailing list to be the first to hear about her upcoming membership community focused on finding meaning and purpose in midlife. https://www.dremilymusgrove.com/